WATCH: Two scuffles mar Meralco Sparks’ tuneup win over JPV Marikina

MAKATI — With two scuffles in the second half that almost came to blows, the resulting 3-1 scoreline became secondary, as it was an eventful tuneup game between Meralco Sparks and JPV Marikina in Circuit Makati’s Chelsea Blue Pitch that signified that the tension and excitement of the coming season for these two teams are already at its peak as the PFL kicks off in a week’s time.

by Earl Averilla

Meralco won the tuneup game with goals from Milan Nikolic from a corner in the first half, a JPV own goal from a well executed Meralco set-piece, and a brilliant lob by Phil Younghusband in the second half. JPV Marikina got a consolation though from Alexandro Elnar’s header also in the second half.

But what is more notable though are the two events where almost the full lineups of both squads clashed due to the heat of the moment as the game became physical, especially in the second half.

The first instance came shortly after the Sparks registered their third goal of the game. James Younghusband had a scuffle with opposing keeper, Nelson Gasic. Not long after, players from both teams got into the action with shoving and pushing. This was eventually controlled by the referees and the staffs but the two players mentioned were given their respective red cards and their marching orders. Given that this is an unofficial tuneup game, the two were substituted out and replaced to still make it 11 vs 11.