Phil’s brace lifts Loyola Meralco over Stallion, 3-1

MANILA, Philippines – Phil Younghusband came through with another stellar performance as he lifted Loyola Meralco Sparks to a 3-1 victory over reigning titlist Stallion Gilligan's to remain unchallenged at the helm in the First Division of the United Football League at the Emperador Stadium Tuesday night.

Younghusband came through with a brace, the first coming after he volleyed a rebound off a missed header by Boyet Canedo, to open the scoring on the 30th minute and the other five minutes before the final whistle that sealed the Sparks fifth straight win.

The win kept Loyola atop everyone with 15 points, a whopping six points ahead of closest pursuer Global FC of Dan Palami.

Younghusband's double were his sixth and seventh goals of the season so far. The Azkals standout has scored at least one in all of his club's victories, including a 3-0 bashing of Green Archers United-Globe last Jan. 28.

Hamed Hajimahdi scored a penalty shot to knot it at one goal apiece on the 61st minute after Loyola right-back Alexander Elnar brought down Stallion's Naser Doroudian inside the penalty box.

It lasted just six minutes as Lee Joo Young shattered the tie with a spectacular goal on the 67th.

"Maybe there were some extra thoughts because we have some former players from Stallion, and that's still the reigning League champions we played," said Loyola coach Vince Santos.

It was Stallion's second loss against a win and two draws that kept it stranded at seventh spot with five points.

In the other match, Globe-bankrolled GAU drew strength from skipper Floriano Pasilan, Jr.'s hat-trick and dynamo Chieffy Caligdong's double as it walloped a hapless Team Socceroo, 7-1, to move to No. 4 with seven points behind Loyola, Global and LBC-backed Kaya FC.