MANILA – Kaya Iloilo hardly showed any rust from its two weeks of inactivity with a 4-1 win over JPV Marikina in the 2018 Philippines Football League at the Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna.
Jordan Mintah made a hat-trick while Alfred Osei added another goal for Kaya, which stayed on third place after the Saturday match with 10 points on three wins, one draw and two defeats.
It was Kaya’s first match in nearly two weeks after its supposed home game against Global Cebu last Wednesday at the Iloilo Sports Complex in Iloilo City was cancelled due to the latter’s financial woes.
“Every striker wants to score a hat-trick. I thank the players for helping me score my first hat-trick in the league,” said Mintah. “It’s all about hard work and how we respond from training to the game.”
Kaya gained the early lead after Mintah took advantage of a mad scramble on defense for an easy goal in the 27th minute. Just before the break, Mintah was able to double the lead with another easy hit.
Mintah completed his hat-trick with a breakaway strike at the onset of the second half.
JPV was able to pull one back behind Ilonggo J Baguioro before Osei increased the lead back to three with a strike.
“It just so happened that we were really switched on, we really wanted it, and we were really hungry to score a goal – we were successful with that,” said Kaya head coach Noel Marcaida.
With the defeat – its fifth consecutive – JPV remained on fourth place with 6 points (two victories and five defeats)./PN
