BRANDISHING a fluid attack, Loyola Meralco stayed on track in its chase for a first United Football League title with a 10-1 drubbing of Navy Red Juice last night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
National team striker Phil Younghusband struck five goals as the Sparks took their tally to 35 points that put them in second—a point within pacesetter Kaya, which has a game in hand.
Younghusband’s 27th minute penalty—that came after what appeared to be a clean tackle from Roberto Cabural—opened the floodgates for Loyola, which hardly gave Navy space to mount an attack.
Playing their first game in close to a month, the Sparks found difficulty breaking down a stubborn Navy side early on with Phil and James Younghusband also missing a host of chances.
There was little Navy could do when the Sparks found their groove as James Younghusband carved out telling passes that led to at least five goals.
Mark Hartmann contributed two goals, while Korean defenders Park Min-ho and Kim Hyo-il as well as Alex Camara also got on the score sheet for the Sparks, who still have three games remaining this season, starting with a duel with deposed champion Air Force on Tuesday.
Rolly Perez scored a consolation goal from the penalty spot in the 86th minute after Loyola substitute goalkeeper Rolando Cabaniero fouled Arnold Carino inside the box.
The loss dashed hopes of Navy staying in the first division next season with three matches remaining.
Green Archers Globe, on the other hand, ensured its place in the first division after posting a 7-2 victory over Army Fritz and Macziol in the first game.
Substitute Jess Melliza fired two second half goals to help finish off Army, which fell to ninth spot because of an inferior goal difference compared to the Archers.
After falling behind in the fifth minute on Romano Vestal’s close-range strike, the Archers turned on the style, scoring in quick succession starting in the 15th minute when Arvin Gaspe beat Ed Sacapano from just inside the box. Reynaldo Villareal made it 2-1 two minutes later with a stinging strike from 20 yards after a layoff from Arnie Pasinabo on the free kick.