Filipino international Phil Younghusband sparkled anew as the Loyola Meralco Sparks blanked Green Archers United, 2-0, Tuesday night to enter the finals of the 2013 United Football League Cup at Emperador Stadium in Taguig City.
Younghusband, the country’s leading international scorer, scored on a couple of pinpoint free kicks that boosted the Sparks to their second final in three years.
They face a resilient Pachanga-Diliman side, which hacked out a 3-2 win over a gritty Air Force squad in extra time to reach the finals for the first time since joining the UFL two years ago.
The final is set 7:30 tonight also at Emperador Stadium with the Sparks favored to finally end their wait for a trophy.
“I think the team is more mature than the one that lost in the final two years ago,” said Loyola coach Vince Santos, whose team has yet to concede a goal in the tournament.
Iranian defender Reza Amirkhizan’s curling free kick from 20 yards in the 112nd minute proved to be the match-winner for Pachanga, which ended what had been a sensational run by the Division 2-bound Airmen.
Ian Araneta opened the scoring for the Airmen with a thumping header past Kim Versales in the first half, but Pachanga equalized through a Nate Burkey penalty.
Ariel Zerrudo gave Pachanga the lead two minutes into extra time with a left-footed effort, before Air Force skipper, 43-year-old Jezurel Tonog, leveled from close range five minutes later.
Shortly after Burkey and Air Force defender Joel Ballo-allo were sent off for consecutive fouls inside the area, Amirkhizan stepped up to launch a curling strike that hit the frame of the goal before bouncing in past the line.
The Sparks dodged an early bullet when United midfielder Jesse Martindale’s goal was waived off for offside three minutes into the match and Younghusband cashed in on a chance at the edge of the area 10 minutes later.
Lee Joo-young kept the Archers wall guessing when he stepped over the ball to set up Younghusband, who struck it hard and low past Patrick Deyto for the opening goal.