MANILA, Philippines – Phil Younghusband came through in the second half as he helped Loyola Meralco Sparks salvage an escape 1-1 draw while snapping Global FC's amazing seven-game win streak in First Division action of the United Football League at the McKinley Hill grounds in Taguig City Tuesday night.
Down a goal, Younghusband, who was part of the Phl Azkals team that swept the AFC Challenge Cup held last week at the Rizal Memorial pitch, drilled in the penalty shot on the 76th minute as a result of a foul committed by Global substitute Nino Ochotorena on Phil's brother, James.
Younghusband's goal gave the Sparks their 20th match point on six victories and two draws but remained second and two points behind current leader Global, which kept its lofty perch with 22 points despite blowing a golden opportunity to stretch its streak to eight wins.
Global, managed by Azkals manager Dan Palami, appeared headed to continuing its streak following a Patrick Reichelt header on the 10th minute that gave it an early 1-0 advantage, a lead they kept until the middle of the second half.
It lasted for 76 minutes though as the Younghusbands came to the rescue with James drawing the foul and the penalty shot and Phil converting it for the spectacular equalizer.
In the other match, Emmanuela Mbata uncorked a brace to power PSG FC to a 4-0 rout of Phl Army FC to boost its stock.
Mbata struck like a lightning on the 29th and 82nd that hiked the PSG booters' total match points to eight on two wins and two deadlocks against four defeats, which was good for seventh spot or just a point behind joint No. 5 Kaya FC and PachangaDiliman FC with nine apiece.
Jaham Taher unleashed an 18th minute rocket for a 1-0 PSG advantage that the prolific Mbata stretch to a two-goal lead after blasting away with his first goal of the match 11 minutes later.
Younousse Yaogo made it a three-goal cushion by joining the scoring parade on the 46th before Mbata complete the brace on the 82nd to break the collective hearts of the Armymen, who got stuck at joint No. 8 with the Green Archers United with four points.