Photo from Smart San Beda FC
MANILA—James Younghusband netted a hat-trick to propel Smart San Beda FC past Bao Breakers of Iligan, 6-0, Tuesday at the start of the group stage of the PFF-Smart Club Championships at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Memorial Sports Complex in Cagayan de Oro City.
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Younghusband, a starter with the Azkals who has four international goals, opened his account in the 34th minute, scoring from a corner kick, before adding two quick goals in the space of three minutes starting in the 49th minute to put the game beyond Bao’s reach.
National team standout Phil Younghusband, Vaughn Melendres and Eliezer Fabroada were also on the scoresheet for San Beda, which advanced to the group stage for ruling the Luzon eliminations as representative of Rizal FC.
NCR squad Pachanga FC and Columbia of Davao also started hot in the other group matches at the Barotac Nuevo pitch in Iloilo, even as another NCR representative, Teknika, blew a two-goal lead to settle for a 2-2 stalemate against Laos FC of Leyte in Cagayan de Oro.
Cameroonian Alex Obiang and former national team striker Joshua Fegidero were on target as Pachanga stunned Stallions of Barotac Nuevo, 2-0, even as Glenn Bolaquina and Nur Mentang struck as Columbia shut out Baguio FC, 3-0.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals.
Teknika and Laos refused to pull punches in a battle of teams identified with national team manager Dan Palami, who is also head of Leyte Football Association.
Underscoring the rough nature of the duel were the five yellow cards—three on Teknika—that were shown in the game. Teknika striker Misagh Bahadoran was also sent off in the 56th minute for violent conduct, forcing him out of the game against Bao because of suspension.
Teknika went 2-nil up after 10 minutes, thanks to Ghanaian Aye Aryee and Sudanese striker Izo El-Habbib, before Ange Tressor Guisso and Papiniano Macayanan restored parity.