MANILA – Kaya Iloilo failed to sustain its early lead and settled for a 1-1 draw with Stallion Laguna in the 2018 Philippines Football League on Sunday at the Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna.
Even with the outcome, Kaya remained on second place in the standings with 43 points on a 13-6-4 win-loss-draw slate. Stallion, on the other hand, is on fourth with 35 points on a 12-9-2 record.
Both teams had a hard time making decent attempts early in the game until Stallion had a close one in the 29th minute courtesy of Carlo Polli but this was snapped by Kaya’s Nathaniel Villanueva.
After a series of misses, Kaya finally entered the scoring column in the 39th minute on a header by Ilonggo Jovin Bedic from a cross by teammate Robert Lopez Mendy.
Stallion had a chance to tie things up early in the second half courtesy of Ilonggo Jan Jesus Melliza from inside the box but his attempt was blocked by Villanueva.
The Laguna team tied the scores in the 55th minute as Melliza intercepted the ball from Kaya’s Camelo Tacusalme to slot the ball past the defense of Villanueva.
Kaya had two close chances to snatch the advantage but Lopez Mendy’s shot from the edge of the box was halted by the defense and another attempt from him late in the game was just over.
It was the fifth and final meeting for the former and current Iloilo-based football clubs, with both teams tallying two wins against each other in their first four encounters./PN
