MANILA – Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo widened its lead in the 2022-2023 Philippines Football League after a dominant 5-0 victory over Maharlika Manila Football Club on Saturday night at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
Daizo Horikoshi, Dylan Nobiraki, Eric Giganto, Jhan Jesus Melliza and Tamon Horikoshi scored a goal each as the Iloilo City-based booters increased its standings to 36 points, on 12 wins and three defeats.
On the part of the Anton del Rosario-mentored Maharlika Manila, they remained at sixth and last place in the standings with a solitary point after dropping their 12 matches and drawing one.
Kaya-Iloilo opened the scoring in the 16th minute as Milad Behgandom turned and found Daizo at the bottom right corner for a clean finish. It was followed by a connection by Nobiraki from a broken play at the 44th minute for a 2-0 score.
Kaya-Iloilo’s goal spree continued in the second half as homegrown booter Melliza connected on a spot kick penalty at the 49th minute after he was grabbed from behind by a defender.
Giganto joined the scoring fray in the 68th minute as he struck on an off-foot volley from a cross by Daizo. Tamon capped the scoring for Kaya-Iloilo in the 82nd minute from a low cross by Jarvey Gayoso.
Despite the lopsided victory, Kaya-Iloilo head coach Yu Hoshide rued the Iloilo City-based football club’s slow start against Maharlika Manila, just like in their previous two matches against Dynamic Herb Cebu and Mendiola 1991.
“Actually, I am not happy with our own win because we had a slow start again but I am content that the players gave us energy in the second half,” Hoshide said. “Overall, at least we got the three points.”
This was Kaya-Iloilo’s third victory in three matches so far against Maharlika Manila after first beating them last August 27 with the score of 4-1 and repeating over them last October 22, 4-1.
Kaya-Iloilo will aim for its third straight victory next week when it faces Stallion-Laguna Football Club, which is to be bannered by their former player Ilonggo Shirmar Felongco./PN
