MANILA – Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo cruised to a 3-0 win over Dynamic Herb-Cebu in a battle of Visayas-based football clubs in the 2022-2023 Philippines Football League over the weekend at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila.
Jarvey Gayoso, Eric Ben Giganto and Japanese import Daizo Horikoshi scored a goal each in the second half as the Ilonggos remained spotless after two matches.
The victory also served as a follow up to the Iloilo City-based football club’s 1-0 victory over Azkals Developmental League during the opening weekend.
Just like in their season-debut, Kaya-Iloilo struggled to put on the points on the board in the opening half until Gayoso broke the ice early in the second canto for his first-ever goal for the team.
The former Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles standout was at the right place at the right time when he was set up by Horikoshi for a close-range goal in the 54th minute.
Dynamic Herb-Cebu had several opportunities to force a deadlock after the Gayoso hit but was met by the tight defense of the Ilonggos the rest of the second half.
Giganto then knocked in his second goal of the tournament from a pass by Horikoshi in the 86th minute before the Japanese himself scored a header in the 90+1 minute.
“I know even in (the) Copa (Paulino Alcantara) it was very hard against Cebu. They’re a very physical side. My players really did well,” said Kaya-Iloilo mentor Yu Hoshide.
Both teams will return to action next Sunday at the same venue with Kaya-Iloilo facing Mendiola 1991 at 4 p.m. and Dynamic Herb Cebu takes on defending champions United City FC at 7 p.m.
In other results, defending champions United City Football Club cruised to a 5-0 win over Mendiola 1991 FC, while Stallion-Laguna FC prevailed over Maharlika Manila FC./PN
