MANILA, Philippines – The Loyola Meralco Sparks returned to Singapore Cup in style hammering out a 3-0 rout of Harimau Muda B of Malaysia at Jalan Besar Stadium in the Lion City last night.
The Sparks, who ended up fourth in their tournament debut last year, banked on their experience and Phil Younghusband's magical performance to advance to the two-legged quarterfinals in July.
Younghusband sizzled with a brace and kept the Malaysia’s under-20 national team dazed on defense. The Philippine Azkals star striker broke into the scoring column for the Sparks with a penalty kick off an Ashmawi Yakin’s red card in the 18th minute. Loyola Meralco's Korean import Jan Joo Wong doubled the lead 21 minutes later as the Sparks sat on a 2-0 cushion at the half.
Younghusband completed his magical performance with the knockout blow in the 81st minute.
Harimau Muda B, a regular fixture in Singapore’s S.League, bombed out of the competition with the loss.
Loyola Meralco's win, meanwhile, assured of at least a Filipino club in the quarterfinals.
The defending United Football League champion Global will try to join the Sparks in the next round. But the much-anticipated Singapore Cup debut of the UFL powerhouse owned by Azkals team manager Dan Palami on June 1 is expected to meet rough waters with the reigning Singapore Cup titlist Warriors FC standing on their way.