MANILA – Kaya Iloilo moved closer to sealing a semifinals seat – and a chance to play at the Iloilo Sports Complex, their home field – in the 2018 PFL Copa Paulino Alcantara.
They averted an upset by Global Cebu by forcing a 3-3 draw at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Sunday night.
“Our priority is to top the group and play our semifinal in Iloilo,” said Kaya head coach Noel Marcaida. “Whoever will be number two in the other side, we don’t care. We just want to play in Iloilo.”
Global drew first blood in the match with Joshua Beloya scoring easily in the fifth minute. Kaya managed to equalize in the 25th minute with Miguel Tanton sailing the ball toward the box.
The Cebu team regained the advantage early in the second half with Charlie Beaton overpowering the defense of Kaya’s Nathaniel Villanueva. The Iloilo squad answered back anew via an inside hit by Robert Lopez Mendy.
For the third time, Global surged ahead as Jordan Jarvis rose above his man on the corner and nods it in. Kaya had its response again with Lopez Mendy heading a corner by Tanton.
Kaya survived the match despite being reduced to 10 men as early as the 21st minute with veteran Eric Giganto being slapped with a straight red card for getting involved in a scuffle.
With the result, Global remained at the tail-end in Group B with 1 point on one draw and two losses./PN
