UFL Cup finals on Dec. 10: Loyola vs. Air Force

Kaya Cignal FC was ahead 3-0 in the first half of its semifinals United Football League (UFL) Cup match  Monday evening versus the Loyola Meralco Sparks courtesy of two goals from Prince Boley and one from Eric Dagroh.   Kaya needed only to keep Loyola from scoring in the second half but its defense alignments shifted when Boley and goalkeeper Saba Garamorudi were taken off the pitch.   The Loyola Meralco Sparks saw the opportunity and they exploited it well, but it took them some time. Phil Younghusband ignited the Sparks at the 57^th minute, followed up by a penalty goal 12 minutes later against Christopher Camcam.   The equalizer came from Mark Hartmann at the 73^rd minute then a header from James Younghusband at the 78^th. Phil Younghusband sent in his third goal of the rainy evening five minutes before regular time.   Kaya tried to steal the thunder from the Sparks but its attempts at the goal did not bear fruit. Kaya’s Nate Burkey narrowed the gap during stoppage time of five minutes.   "We kept on fighting, took it one goal at a time. We were a little overconfident (in the first half) and we got a wake up call with those three goals (from Kaya)," said Loyola skipper Pat Ozaeta.   In the second semifinals match played past 8 p.m., the Air Force Phoenix held Global FC goalless, 2-0. The two late goals from Yanti Barsales and Jaylor Soriano secured the Philippine Air Force Phoenix slot in the finals on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex..  — ELR, GMA News