Carmona, Cavite — Kaya FC-Iloilo put together their best performance of the year so far with a 4-0 victory over the Azkals Development Team. Robert Lopez Mendy finally got himself on the score sheet with a brace, Carlyle Mitchell scored his first for the season, and Daizo Horikoshi notched a goal and two assists on the night.

Kaya had a rather sloppy start to the game and struggled to find a rhythm against ADT’s high press in the early goings. With an errant pass here and a miscommunication there, it was beginning to look like yet another low-scoring evening. Things changed on a dime, however.

In the 20th minute, the good ol’ Bedic-Lopez Mendy connection produced magic once again. The Captain brought the ball up from midfield following an Audie Menzi interception, before sending it forward to Robert right outside the box. The striker tapped it back to Jovin for a quick one-two, sprinted in behind the defense, and placed his shot perfectly in the top right corner. (1-0)

Less than five minutes later, Kaya would double the advantage during a scramble after Horikoshi’s corner in the 24th minute. A short clearance would find its way back to the Japanese winger on the left flank, who floated the ball into the box where only the 6’2 Mitchell could reach. The defender softly headed the ball towards the far post, and all the defenders could do was watch it drop in. (2-0)

The scoring barrage continued in the 29th minute in extraordinary fashion. After Iloilo’s own press succeeded and Simone Rota won the ball back, he passed it ahead to Lopez Mendy at midfield for a quick counter. He played it through to Horikoshi up the left in space, who brought it into penalty area before cutting inside and giving it back to the incoming Mendy.

Robert—who went from the centerline to the six-yard box in the blink of an eye—popped the ball up behind him with his left foot, spun 180 degrees, and volleyed it in with his right. In an astonishing display of finishing, the striker secured his brace with a highlight reel goal that would balloon the lead to three—Kaya in full control of the match by the half-hour mark. (3-0)

Iloilo found some of the creativity that they’ve been lacking in previous fixtures, continuing to create chances through the second half and ending up with 27 shots and 14 on target. The ball possession rate evened out some by the end, but ADT sending players forward on attack left the rear vulnerable late in the game.

Daizo got in on the action in the 80th minute, going one-on-one with the keeper after Jhan Melliza caught his defenders napping and sent him a through ball into the box. The speedster took one touch and went far post with his left, tucking it into the bottom right corner for his third goal of the campaign and Kaya’s fourth of the evening. (4-0)

Coach Yu Hoshide used three of five available substitutions on the night. Oskari Kekkonen returned to the lineup from his National Team duties, checking into the game for Mitchell in the 57th minute. Fitch Arboleda relieved Lopez Mendy in the 78th, while Shirmar Felongco came in for the birthday boy Melliza in the 83rd. Both Jhanjhan and Robert made their way into the referee’s book, receiving yellow cards in the 25th and 71st minute respectively.

Kaya FC-Iloilo will return to PFL Cup action in two weeks to take on familiar foes Stallion Laguna FC on Monday, May 2.