JAMES Younghusband sparked FC Meralco Manila with a game-winning goal in the second half to edge the gritty and stubborn JPV Marikina, 1-0, and maintain the solo lead with its third win in a row in the Philippines Football League (PFL) at the Binan Football Stadium in Laguna.
Meralco captain Younghusband helped his team to escape their toughest match of the season so far wherein JPV Marikina dominated plenty of possession until the 64th minute, where James rose to the occasion finding the back of the net off a corner from younger brother, Phil.
“I think the team showed heart to survive the match against a very strong JPV team,” said Meralco coach Aris Caslib, whose team earlier defeated Stallion (5-1) and Ilocos United (2-1). “This was our toughest game so far, and I’m glad the players stood up to the challenge.”
The Sparks stayed on top after three unscathed matches with nine points while JPV Marikina got its second lost in its first three matches, which has three points on the strength of its 3-2 win over Davao last week.
Kaya Makati FC, meanwhile, notched its maiden PFL win after trouncing the visiting Davao Aguilas, 2-0, in a game where things heated up for both teams and played with 10 men at the University of Makati Football pitch.
Kaya showed its grit and aggressiveness from the start as the Makati Booters only needed two first half goals from Jordan Mintah and Adam Reed to avenge their 0-1 lost to Global Cebu on opener two weeks ago.
Mintah drew the first blood for Kaya in 16th minute with a close range strike followed by Reed’s penalty kick conversion in the 42nd minute as Davao captain Jason Cordova was slapped with a red card for fouling Mintah inside the box.
However, Reed was also given a red card in the 52nd for a challenge early in the second half. The 10 men of Kaya hung on until the end to preserve its 2-0 lead and get its sweet first three points.
“Davao Aguilas gave us a tough game, especially in the second half,” Kaya Coach Noel Marcaida said. “We gave them too much space they were able to play in the second half. But coming into this game all we wanted is the three points in whatever way we can get it.”
The Aguilas had two close chances from Omar Khan and Dylan De Bruycker in the second half but both shots still went off the mark. Davao only has a point to show after two losses and a draw in three matches.
Reed and Cordova will serve one-game suspension after sustaining red cards in the match.