UFL: Sparks stay perfect with win over Archers

Loyola Meralco Sparks 3, Green Archers United Globe 0.

As early as four games into the season, the Loyola Meralco Sparks are looking like the team to beat in the UFL.

On Tuesday Loyola solidified their stranglehold on top of the UFL Division One table by downing Green Archers United Globe 3-0 in Emperador Stadium. Phil Younghusband, Matt Hartmann, and Jake Morallo struck for the Sparks, who have the maximum twelve points from four games.

Loyola played textbook possession Football while GAU were done in by subpar support play and yet another rough non-call by the officials.

The game started ominously for GAU, with their keeper, Patrick Deyto, forced into a superb diving save twelve minutes in off a terrific free kick attempt from Younghusband.

Five minutes later, the Sparks went ahead. Meralco converted a giveaway from GAU centerback Tommy Escoltero into a storming run by midfielder Boyet Cañedo into the box. From there he supplied a perfectly-weighted pass on the ground to Younghusband, who hammered the ball into the top right corner.

Escoltero started in place of the suspended Lawrence Obinna Ikegwuruka, who was redcarded after complaining to the referee in United's last game, a controversial draw against Army GTI.

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Younghusband should have made it 2-0 two minutes later when he picked up a loose ball after a pass between Deyto and Boiboi Fernandez went awry. But the Azkal sprayed wide.

The Sparks controlled most possession and the Archers were limited to free-kick attempts that missed the mark from Park Jun Soo and Jesse Martindale.

Ten minutes before the half Loyola had doubled their lead thanks to a magnificent team goal.

The end of a breathtaking 13-pass sequence came when Lee Joo Young brought the ball unperturbed on top of the penalty box then sent a low pass to Younghusband. Phil redirected it between his legs to Hartmann, who drilled the ball past Deyto from the left side.

At the half United took off an injured Chieffy Caligdong for Tating Pasilan, who himself had a back strain that kept him off the starting eleven for the second game in a row.

In the 62^nd minute came the cruel piece of poor refereeing that dented GAU's hope for a comeback. Archer Robert Lopez-Mendy broke through the Sparks defense and exploited a miscommunication between Loyola centerback Sam Bonney and keeper Baba Sampana to grab on to a loose ball.

Lopez-Mendy hoofed it towards goal from close range but the leather clanged off the outstretched arm of Spark defender Joaco Cañas, who was manning the goal line. Astonishingly, main referee Roel Emnas refused to give neither a card nor a penalty, much to the fury of the Archers players, coaches and management.

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United continued to fight but the wind was no longer in their sails, as Lopez-Mendy, Arnie Pasinabo, and Gabe Olowoyeye all failed in their shot attempts.

Right at the 90^th minute Spark substitute Jake Morallo smoothly deposited a shot from inside the box into the lower left corner of the Archers goal for 3-0.

After the final whistle GAU manager Monchu Garcia, as he did after the controversial draw with Army, walked down to the pitch to berate Emnas and his crew on the game-changing non-call.

Afterwards Loyola coach Vince Santos explained that Loyola regularly practices hanging on to the ball, but always with a purpose.

“Every training we work on keeping possession. But we are not just about keeping the ball for as long as we can. We want possession so that we can penetrate (and score.)

Loyola next meets Stallion on February 4. The Archers, winless at three points, tangle with Kaya on Saturday.

OTHER NOTES: Sparks James Younghusband and Freddy Gonzalez both missed a second game in a row due to injury.... Azkal Patrick Reichelt was at Emperador. The winger is out of contract at the moment after parting ways with this Thai club Singhtarua. He says he is not connected with any UFL team but will train with his old club, Global, in the meantime.... Phil Younghusband picked up a yellow card in the second half after a challenge against Dodong Villareal of the Archers.... In the other game on Tuesday, Stallion beat Kaya 1-0.

Follow Bob on Twitter @PassionateFanPH.