MANILA – Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo continued its strong start in the 2024 Philippines Football League after a 3-1 victory over Manila Diggers Football Club at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Jarvey Gayoso, Robert Lopez-Mendy, and Shuto Komaki converted a goal each as the Iloilo City-based booters remained on top of the standings with 22 points, on seven wins and a draw.
Gayoso, the current top goal scorer in the league, kicked off the scoring for Kaya-Iloilo as he connected from the bottom right corner from a perfectly placed through ball by a teammate in the 18th minute.
Manila Diggers, however, responded with a header from Salifu Jaffa in the 26th minute from a corner kick by a teammate to force a 1-1 deadlock heading into the halftime break.
The defending league champions Kaya-Iloilo reclaimed the lead in the second half following a series of attacks, which led to a conversion from Lopez-Mendy in the 67th minute.
Kaya-lloilo then sealed the victory in the 79th minute as Komaki’s strike from the edge of the box sneaked into the bottom corner to establish a 3-1 advantage and never looked back.
Kaya-Iloilo will look to continue their winning run as they face Mendiola Football Club 1991 at 8:30 p.m. on June 9 at the same venue.
Davao Aguilas-University of Makati Football Club, on the other hand, moved to a tie with Kaya-Iloilo with 22 points following a 3-0 domination over Loyola Meralco Sparks Football Club.
Stallion-Laguna Football Club, on the other hand, dropped to fourth place with 20 points after being forced to a 1-1 deadlock by United City Football Club, which improved to 16 points.
In other results, One Taguig Football Club jumped to fifth spot with 18 points following a 9-1 rout over Mendiola 1991 FC, while Maharlika Taguig Football Club blanked Manila Montet FC, 5-0./PN
