MERALCO Manila stayed unscathed in five matches after the Sparks beat a 10-man Kaya Makati side, 2-0, in their “Metro Manila Derby” in the Philippines Football League (PFL) last Saturday at the University of Makati pitch.
Joaco Cañas and Phil Younghusband scored the two goals for Meralco to preserve the team’s unbeaten run for 15 points.
Cañas opened scoring with a glancing header in the 43rd minute before Younghusband doubled the advantage from the same spot in the 66th minute to push the Sparks three points clear of second-running JPV Marikina.
The Marikina side stunned Ceres Negros, 2-1, thanks to goals from Takumi Uesato and former Ceres striker Jay Baguioro at the Rizal Memorial Stadium also last Saturday.
A late striker from Bienve Maranon in the 83rd minute set the stage for a thrilling finish but JPV hung tough to claim its fourth win in six matches.
Uesato broke the ice from the penalty spot after Kota Kawase fouled the JPV striker inside the area. Baguioro tormented his old club with a 79th minute goal.
Kaya lost for the second time in six matches as it stayed at 10 points for third spot. Ceres remains sixth with four points.
In the battle, dubbed as the Metro Manila derby, it was Aris Caslib’s men who got off to a bright start with their pressing game that put Kaya on the backfoot in the first half. The Sparks were rewarded with Cañas goal off a throw in.
“We were able to sustain a high tempo in the first thirty minutes,” Caslib said. “It was a total team effort.”
The Sparks were rewarded a controversial penalty when Jordan Mintah appeared to have struck Milan Nikolic during a corner kick.
Referee Clifford Daypuyat not only gave the penalty but also sent off Mintah marking the fourth straight match that Kaya ended the game with only 10 men.
Younghusband rolled his effort into the low left corner to make it 2-0. The Sparks claimed a third consecutive clean sheet for goalkeeper Ace Villanueva.
“In our system if you have one player who loses concentration, a team like Kaya can capitalize on it. But we didn’t,” said Younghusband, who skippered the Sparks in the absence of older brother James who was sidelined by an ankle injury. “Every single player worked their socks off and gave everything.”