Manila shuts down Makati to remain unbeaten in PFL

Phil Younghusband silences UMak from the spot as Meralco Manila stifled Kaya Makati in the first Capital Clasico.

By Kevin Estrada

MAKATI -- Meralco Manila remained undefeated and on top of the PFL pile for another week after a workmanlike 2-0 away win at 10-man Kaya in UMak in the first Capital Clasico of the season.

Aris Caslib's Sparks scored in both halves to post their fifth win on the trot, five points clear off the vanquished and shorthanded home side, who lost for the first time this year.

In the 16th running of the longest running fixture in Philippine football history, both sides went on attack mode right off the bat, but they could not just direct it to their respective targets.

It was the visiting Sparks who were on the board first just two minutes before haltfime, when Joaco Cañas latched on from Tyler Matas' cross to score on his second consecutive Capital Clasico in league play.

Phil Younghusband made it 2-0 from the spot 21 minutes after the restart, putting the ball into Zach Banzon's right after Jordan Mintah got tossed for supposed elbow on Milan Nikolic.

Now at 15 points, the Sparks set their sights in Tagum for a return fixture against the Davao Aguilas on Wednesday before defending Rizal Memorial once again against Stallion Laguna next Saturday.

"The spectators are not a problem because we are able to manage. With the way we're playing right now, the main challenge will be the players to do with their play," Caslib said after the match in which they credited everyone for the total team effort.

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