UFL: Sparks try to bounce back vs Pachanga

MANILA, Philippines — Pacesetting Loyola Meralco seeks to regain its winning ways against struggling Pachanga PLDT Home Fibr Tuesday night in the United Football League at Emperador Stadium in Taguig.

Held to a 3-3 stalemate by Socceroo last Saturday, the Sparks try to recover their sharp form in the 7:30 p.m. duel with last year’s UFL Cup finalists.

The Sparks, starring striker Phil Younghusband, notched 16 out of a possible 18 points in their first six matches.

Pachanga pushed the Sparks to the limit in the UFL Cup finals won by Loyola, 3-2, last December.

“It’s going to be an interesting match because both teams want to bounce back and they are also coming from a tough game,” said Loyola coach Vince Santos.

Pachanga dropped its last two matches, including a heavy 1-4 loss to Global in a game where skipper Reza Amirkhizan was sent off.

Global guns for a fifth straight victory against a Socceroo side coming off a great result against Loyola.

The newly promoted side, in eighth spot with five points, was on the brink of an upset by taking a 3-1 lead before the Sparks mounted a searing comeback.

After losing to Loyola in its season debut, Global has come up with a string of solid performances that saw them best Pachanga, Army, Pasargad and Kaya.

But Global coach Leigh Manson is wary of the threat posed by Socceroo, which he feels has slowly but surely adapted to life in the top flight.

“With all promoted teams, the danger you have is that at some point they may adapt to the division they moved into,” said Manson.