Younghusband's brace powers Sparks, Global rallies past Kaya

MANILA, Philippines -- Fil-Brit Phil Younghusband came through with a brace as he powered Loyola Meralco Sparks to a 5-1 bashing of Army-General Trias International and into the solo lead in the United Football League 2014 at the Emperador Stadium Saturday night.

The talented Younghusband opened up the scoring with a 26th minute goal that Sammuel Bonney followed by unleashing a rocket himself 10 minutes later to give the Sparks a two-goal cushion entering halftime.

Anton Gonzales made it a three-goal advantage after he blasted away with a goal on the 50th but Army-GTI broke through Loyola’s defense after Nestorio Margarse connected on a brilliant goal on the 61st to close the gap.

It turned out the last show of resistance for Army-GTI as it couldn’t score from there while Loyola added to more thanks to Lee Won Hyung, who scored on the 57th, and Younghusband, who completed a double on that 83rd minute goal.

The win sent Loyola from a share of first with their recent victim to solo first with six match points on two victories.

In the only other match, Global FC rallied from a one-goal deficit to escape with a dramatic 2-1 win over Kaya FC.

Trailing early no thanks to that lightning quick third minute goal by OJ Porteria, Global fought back strong as Charles Pettys knotted the count at 1-1 after he scored on the 28th and Valentine Kama followed up with a goal eight minutes later.

Kama’s brilliance turned out to be the dagger in the heart of Kaya, which is being bankrolled by LBC, as the two clubs upped the defensive ante and shut down each other the rest of the way.

Global thus forged a four-team logjam at No. 2 with Pachanga Diliman, Army-GTI and Kaya on three points.