James YH scores as Loyola Sparks beat Laos 2-1 in UFL Cup
The well-traveled Loyola Meralco Sparks eked out a workmanlike 2-1 victory in the UFL Cup against Laos FC on Thursday night in the University of Makati Football Field.
It was their debut in the cup after losing two games against Tampines Rovers in the Singapore Cup over the weekend.
Chad Gould picked up his first score for the Sparks in the 25th minute while James Younghusband headed in a goal a minute into first-half stoppage time.
Laos' Lester Villanueva's long-range looping header in the 85th minute was their only goal of the game.
The Sparks began their Group C play missing midfielder Anto Gonzales and goalie Ref Cuaresma, who are on Azkals duty in Bahrain. The Younghusbands will join the Azkals for their October 16th match away at Kuwait.
Playing for Cuaresma was reserve netminder Mark Sorongon.
It's the second loss in the group for Laos, who last October 7 dropped a 1-0 result to Nomads.
Loyola started well, with Mark Hartmann firing a free kick in the fourth minute that was saved by Laos keeper Oliver Moreno.
Four minutes later another Hartmann free kick skipped over the top of the crossbar.
In the thirteenth minute Phil Younghusband headed a goal in but the offside flag was up.
Laos looked to take a shock lead moments later when Loyola left back Roxy Dorlas clumsily barged into a Laos attacker in the penalty area. Referee Joel Lamboson unhesitatingly pointed to the spot.
But the Sparks fans heaved a sigh of relief when Nino Ochotorena bludgeoned his penalty kick, hooking it left badly.
Hartmann, Park Min Ho, Jang Jo Won, and James Younghusband went on to pepper the Laos goal with chances, but the breakthrough came in the 25th.
Converted centerback Chad Gould hit the post from a goalmouth scramble then moments later got the ball back and followed up for a right-footed goal.
Phil could have made it 2-0 in the 34th but his flick sailed over the crossbar.
Then in injury time Park Min Ho released a gorgeous diagonal pass form the right that found a streaking Phil Younghusband. Phil was denied by the crossbar but the ball fell kindly to James, who nodded it past Moreno for a 2-0 scoreline.
To start the second half Loyola mentor Kim Chul Su made one change, bringing in Cameroonian Rodrigue Nembot in for centerback Kim Woo Chul. Park Min Ho moved over to the central defense while Nembot took Park's spot in the formation.
Moreno pulled off a great save on Phil in the 49th while Park Min Ho, perhaps ignoring his defensive role, booted high in the 59th and headed to the keeper two minutes later.
Aaron Altiche, a former San Beda player, shot wide for Laos in the 62nd and narrowly missed from long range six minutes later.
Phil once again tested Moreno in the 70th minute but the Laos keeper was equal to the task with another excellent save.
With eight minutes to go Kim brought on Dumaguete subs Jake Morallo and Jayson Cutamora for Hartmann and Davide Cortina. But ironically, it was Laos who scored soon after.
Lester Villanueva took a cross from the right and from way out produced a speculative high header that eluded the grasp of Sorongan.
Loyola continued to press and Park and Phil both found the net but in both instances the goals were disallowed for offside.
Moreno once again blanked Phil with a diving save in the 93rd minute to cap a great night between the sticks.
Loyola next play Pachanga on October 20. By then both Younghusbands as well as the other two Spark Azkals will be back from the Middle East.
Laos will likely need to sweep their remaining group C matches against Pachanga and Mendiola to have any hope of progressing, as only the top two in each five-team group make it to the quarterfinals.
OTHER NOTES: In the other match of the evening, General Trias, composed completely of Korean players, defeated Socceroo 2-0 in a Group A clash. The Koreans are now on seven points on top of the group after previously drawing Global 0-0 and walloping Navy 5-0. It was Socceroo's first match.... During one first-half lull, James Younghusband went to the sidelines and, according to the suspended Matthew Hartmann, yelled "why isn't Simon (Greatwich) starting?" Greatwich entered the game in the 55th for Jang Jo Won.... The Umak pitch is as bumpy and unpredictable as ever. At least twice in the second half, Laos ground ball shots suddenly flew upwards. Fortunately Sorongan was able to react both times. To make things worse, the pitch is swampy and mushy on the sides and reportedly hard as concrete in the middle. In my opinion, the whole thing needs to be ripped up and re-done.... Laos player Rezziel Villaespin has a great long throw-in. Not quite was powerful as Jason Sabio's but it did cause the Sparks some headaches.... I heard a rumor in the stands that Tampines Rovers are so impressed by Greatwich and Hartmann's play over the weekend that they are interested in their services. Just a rumor though.... The three disallowed goals by Loyola must be some kind of record.... Laos were coached by former Pasargad manager Joel Villarino, whose main responsibility is to coach the Global women's team.... I was tasked to do the Trivia game at halftime where the UFL gave away two shirts. My question: which Loyola player scored his first Azkal goal in the 2004 Tiger Cup. Answer: Chad Gould. One guy gave the right answer after some girls erroneously answered "Phil Younghusband."
You can follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333 and the UFL @UFLPhilippines.
