UFL: Loyola downs battling PSG to keep pressure at the top

Loyola managed to beat a feisty PSG side and secure the three points via a 4-2 tally, despite being under pressure for much of the game at the Emperador Stadium on Thursday night.

The teams looked even early on, as Emmanuel Mbata’s long-range piledriver at the 22nd minute canceled out Jeong Byeong Yeol’s far-distance opener, in-between Belinga Blanchard smashing against the crossbar. After some smart saves from Ricardo Padilla, Loyola went ahead quickly after the game restarted in the second half, with Phil Younghusband hooking in a deflected free-kick in the 47th minute.

Matthew Hartmann fired in Loyola’s third goal off a Phil Younghusband assist, before the Sparks’ top scorer added his second of the game, and fifteenth of the season, converting a softly given penalty in the 81st minute.

In injury time Younousse Yaogo tapped in a consolation goal for PSG, prior to the full-time whistle.

First half

PSG came out quickly, hoping to surprise Loyola, as Younousse Yaogo fired over in the fifth minute from inside the area, before Emmanuel Mbata, returning from suspension, shot at Ref Cuaresma. Loyola then made an early change, Peter Fadrigalan replacing Rodrigue Nembot, who was taken to the hospital with an arm injury.

Soon after though, Jeong Byeong Yeol fired Loyola in front in the 13th minute. From 20-yards out, the Korean was given way too much space and shot into the top of the net as the Sparks went ahead against the run of play.

Belinga Blanchard then smashed the ball against the crossbar from inside the area as PSG almost equalized instantly. But Loyola could have gone further ahead as Phil Younghsuband crossed for his brother James, who knocked the ball down on his first touch for Mark Hartmann. His shot was saved well however, by PSG’s third choice keeper Ricardo Padilla.

It was a high-tempo start to the game, Phil Younghusband firing over from the right in the 20th minute as Loyola started to gain control of possession. Two minutes later though, and Emmanuel Mbata stunned the Sparks, as he worked into himself some space away from Simon Greatwich and shot into the top corner from just outside the area.

Jaham Taher struggled to find his range; his long effort was inches away, before he fired a 20-yard free-kick just wide, as PSG had the better of the chances to go ahead.

That was until the 41st minute, when Padilla made another good save as Mark Hartmann shot at goal just outside the area, only for the defender-turned-keeper to dive quickly and get his fingertips onto the ball and deflect it away.

That was only the fifth shot Loyola managed, compared to PSG’s eleven at that point, and Loyola’s sixth at goal could well have been a score, as Phil Younghusband crossed to the backpost for his unmarked brother, who adjusted his body but headed just wide in the 44th minute, as the sides went into the break level.


Second half

Loyola retook the lead in the 47th minute, with Phil Younghusband benefiting from some good fortune, as Mark Hartmann’s free-kick hit the wall and the striker hooked in his fourteenth goal of the season while unmarked near the backpost.

After both sides pushed for the next goal Phil Younghusband chipped in Matthew Hartmann on the left wing for the returning midfielder to shoot beyond Padilla in the 61st minute and make the lead more comfortable from a very tight angle.

He was replaced soon afterwards, in the 66th minute, as Matthew Uy took to the pitch. Jaymille Conmigo on for Hamed Hajimhedi, before Promise Jolomi was booked for a foul inside the PSG half. Jang Joo Wong then came on for Peter Fadrigalan as the early substitute went off with cramps.
 
Loyola was given a soft penalty to wrap things up, with Phil Younghusband dragged back, if ever so slightly, and going to ground. Getting up to smash the ball to his left, Younghusband scored his fifteenth goal of the season, to move one goal behind UFL’s top scorer Rufo Sanchez.

Mbata was booked a minute later as his frustration got the better of him, before Simon Greatwich came off for Alexandro Elnar. And after Mark Hartmann swung a free-kick just wide of the goal, PSG got a consolation conversion as Emil Muncada played a smart one-two and put in a low cross to the backpost for Yaogo to tap in and complete the final score

What’s next for the teams

Loyola keeps up the pressure on league leaders Stallion and defending champions Global with victory here. Four points behind the Stallions, they jump into second, though Global will regain the spot with a positive result in their game in hand.

Loyola has now won its last four games since losing to the Stallions and with matches against Global, among others, left in their fixtures, the title challenge is still up for grabs. The Sparks will next be in action against Kaya though, as they look to rub salt in the wound of a side which hasn’t won in their last four games.

PSG meanwhile, has now lost its last four games. However with only one goal in the three leading up to this match, they can feel much better about their performance here, as they deserved a closer scoreline than this.
 
In action next on May 16, PSG will be facing the Nomads, who recently rose one point above PSG, following their draw with Kaya which took them to twelve points. A victory for either club in that game will go a long way to determining which will finish above the other, as the two look to climb back up to the middle of the table and move more comfortably away from the relegation zone. - AMD, GMA News