Manila, Philippines — With the biggest goal margin in Copa Paulino Alcantara history, Kaya FC-Iloilo take home all three points following their 11-0 result against Garelli United FC. The boys put together a ruthlessly efficient attack, displaying their class as the squad begins to come into its own.
Ricki Sendra snatched the opener in the ninth minute, quickly becoming one of Daizo Horikoshi’s favorite targets on corners. After playing it short and getting it right back, he curled the ball into the box for the Argentinian midfielder to nod into the net. (1-0)
Kaya repeated the corner tactic just a minute later, Daizo this time finding Abou Sy for a header that was denied by the post. However, the ball fell perfectly to Arnel Amita for the clean up and his first goal of the season. (2-0)
Fellow former FEU Tamaraw Jhan Melliza joined him on the scoresheet in the 15th minute. After winning the ball back in midfield, a mesmerizing attack up the right flank ended with a deep Marwin Angeles cross—put away by Jhan-Jhan’s header at the far post. (3-0)
To cap off the first half, Ricki Sendra secured his brace in the 46th. The night’s MOTM was in the right place and right time to clean up Nano Amita’s deflected shot. (4-0)
Marwin Angeles picked things back up in the second period, scoring little over a minute after play resumed. Though the midfielder’s initial strike was saved, Horikoshi was first to the second ball and Angeles was able to poke it up for a volley fired low into the bottom corner. (5-0)
Abou Sy joined the party in the 61st at the end of a 3-v-7 counterattack. Nano played the ball up the left to Daizo, who split defenders as he cut inside to fire a through pass past the sea of orange shirts to the striding striker who slammed it home. (6-0)
The Senegalese forward joined the brace club in the 65th, linking up with the Japanese winger once again. Horikoshi slid the final pass between a defender’s legs to the edge of the six-yard box; where Sy took a touch, turned, and fired between his man’s legs to complete the pair of nutmegs and score. (7-0)
After stacking assists in the previous two games, it was finally Daizo Horikoshi’s turn to get on the scoresheet. Fitch Arboleda found him on a curling run up the right in the 67th, and the reigning PFL Golden Boot cleanly slid the ball past the keeper and in. (8-0)
Marwin Angeles filed away his second goal in the 73rd, perfectly timing his run into the box and stretching out his left boot to meet Mar Diano’s cross—tapping the ball in for Kaya’s ninth. (9-0)
The Mar-Maru connection came through again in the 79th, Diano’s cross taking a slight deflection into the path of Angeles just inside the penalty area. The maestro struck the ball first-time to complete his hat trick in style. (10-0)
Daizo placed the cherry on top in the 80th minute, becoming the fourth Kaya player with a brace or better in this match. Curt Dizon muscled his way past the backline before cutting the ball back towards the penalty spot, and Horikoshi—perhaps making up for his spot miss in the 28th—curled it into the back of the net. (11-0)
Kaya FC-Iloilo are now up to 2nd place in Group A, tied in wins with Philippine Air Force FC with a hefty goal difference of +18.
Starting Lineup: 3-4-3
LF: Horikoshi, ST: Sy, RF: Amita
LWB: Melliza, CM: Sendra, CM: Angeles, RWB: Arboleda©
CB: Casambre, CB: Saito, CB: Rota
GK: Kammeraad
Subs: Bandeken, Menzi, Diano, Romero, Giganto, Swainston, Dizon, Lopez Mendy, Gayoso, Bedic
Coach Colum Curtis used six substitutions in this match:
- Audie Menzi, Mark Swainston, and Curt Dizon checked into the game in the 62nd minute, replacing Simone Rota, Akito Saito, and Arnel Amita.
- Mar Diano stepped onto the pitch in the 71st, coming in for Jhan Melliza.
- Lastly, Eric Giganto and Jarvey Gayoso entered the fold in the 81st, the latter making his return from injury. The pair checked in for Marwin Angeles and Abou Sy, respectively.
