Loyola Meralco regained top spot with a 2-0 blanking of Kaya Saturday, even as Stallion lost its 100 percent record after getting held to a scoreless draw by Pasargad in the United Football League. 

In a rematch of their memorable UFL Cup semifinal duel won by the Sparks, brothers Phil and James Younghusband found the back of the in the first half of an enthralling contest at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. 

It was Loyola's fourth win in five matches to move ahead of Kaya and Stallion, which later struggled to break down a compact Pasargad side at the University of Makati field. 

Air Force Phoenix grabbed its first win of the season by nipping Navy Red Juice, 2-1, thanks to two goals from Ian Araneta. 

Army and Nomads battled to a 1-1 standoff in a game marred by a scuffle just before the final whistle. 

Nomads struck first in the 11th minute behind Toullec Loic who bundled home after Army keeper Ed Sacapano couldn't handle Darren Hartmann's cross. 

Roel Gener equalized for Army in the 31st minute with a well-placed header after a fine cross from Luis Brilliantes. 

The results meant that the Sparks regained the No. 1 position with 12 points, although Stallion, which has 10, have a game in hand just like Kaya, which fell to third with nine points. 

Army and Nomads kept fifth and sixth spots with five points, while Air Force moved up to seventh with four points. 

Pasargad are in eighth with two points after a second consecutive draw, with Archers in ninth and Navy at the bottom with just a point in four matches. 

Loyola didn't need to rally from a deficit this time as James Youngusband's header off a corner kick put the Sparks ahead in the 12th minute.

Phil doubled the lead in the 37th minute, showing good control from a long ball, before chipping it past Saba Garamoroudi.

Kaya lacked the creativity to break down a much-improved Loyola backline, which shut out an opponent for the first time this season. 

Garamoroudi needed to be in fine form to stop Mark Hartmann, Byeong Jyeong-yeol and Phil Younghusband on clear-cut chances in the first half.

Nomads goalkeeper Friso Klock was sent off in the aftermath of the scuffle with Champ Baron in injury time. Nomads defender Daniel Williams was also booked for the needless incident, along with Army players Boogie Margarse and John Cain.