Manila, Philippines — Following a shocking opening goal by Mendiola FC 1991, Kaya FC-Iloilo played out of their minds and ended up with a dominant 6-1 final scoreline.

Iloilo rewarded Eric Giganto’s run of excellent play with a place in the starting eleven, opposite Captain Jovin Bedic on the wings. Jarvey Gayoso played the central forward role, backed in the midfield by the trio of Daizo Horikoshi, Oskari Kekkonen, and Ryo Fujii. Shirmar Felongco and Fitch Arboleda featured as wingbacks, flanking the central duo of Marco Casambre and Simone Rota. Between the sticks, Quincy Kammeraad got the starting nod for the second game in a row.

The first twenty minutes were all Iloilo as Mendiola came out in their signature low block. Kaya created chance after chance, but just couldn’t find joy in the match’s early stages. Daizo had two chances that were turned away by both the left and right posts, Jovin found himself alone in the penalty area but his try slid wide, and Jarvey fired from the edge of the box but goalkeeper Bandeken Fong redirected it over the crossbar.

As the boys settled in to gear up for a battle of attrition, they were caught out in transition and paid dearly for it. A soon as Iloilo lost the ball at midfield, the white shirts immediately sprung into action and went on the counter. Ashley Flores found Philippine football mainstay Aaron Altiche at the far post, the winger beating the backline to the ball and burying it in the back of the net in the 21^st minute. (0-1)

Kaya were left surprised, stunned, and most importantly: vengeful. Finding themselves trailing for the first time this season, the boys gradually began putting a stranglehold on the game. They upped the ante, and even with Mendiola retreating back into their shell, their efforts bore fruit about twenty minutes later. On a recycled possession on the right flank, Eric Giganto switched the ball to his left before lofting it into the box for a striding Jovin Bedic—the captain timed his run expertly and headed in the 40^th minute equalizer. (1-1)

On the warpath, Iloilo weren’t content to go into the half with the score all tied up. After recovering a shallow clearance, Oskari Kekkonen took one look and sent the ball back into the box. Eric’s touch was of pure quality, killing its momentum with his right foot before faking out his defender and popping it up with his left. Giganto’s golazo was completed when his half-volley ricocheted off the keeper’s foot and into the roof of the net in the 47^th minute. (2-1)

Coming out of halftime, Kaya began playing it safe and were more methodical with their ball movement and execution. That lasted for ten minutes before the floodgates opened once more.

Following an expedition up the right flank, the ball was reversed to Shirmar Felongco in the 55^th minute with acres of space around him. Noy fired an absolute missile from over 30 yards out, flying low and making a beeline for the bottom left corner. Bandeken Fong got both gloves on the attempt, but it ended up spilling for Jarvey Gayoso to clean right up. (3-1)

The onslaught continued in the 75^th minute, following a Marwin Angeles interception and lob to Gayoso at the edge of the box. The forward laid the ball off for Daizo who very nearly dribbled through two defenders inside the penalty area. The ball fell behind a trailing Jovin, but the captain deftly turned on his heel, loaded up, and completed his rotation by burying it in the back of the net straight down the middle. (4-1)

The Kanagawa Speedster was on full throttle the whole match, and he finally got rewarded for his effort in the 89^th minute. Jarvey tracked down a loose pass deep in enemy territory and released Daizo Horikoshi to go one-n-one down the goal line. A touch, a nutmeg, and another touch later found the ball sliding though the near post for goal number five. (5-1)

Iloilo got one last lick in to bring the tally up to six in added time. Daizo sliced through the defence once again before leaving the ball to Jhanjhan Melliza just inside the box. He struck the final blow with his off-foot in a show of ruthlessness, smashing it into the top right corner in the 92^nd minute. (6-1)

Coach Yu Hoshide used all five of his available substitutions in this match, first sending in Marwin Angeles for Ryo Fujii in the 59^th minute. He then put in Jhan Melliza and Audie Menzi for Eric Giganto and Fitch Arboleda in the 67^th, and finally deployed Carlyle Mitchell and Camelo Tacusalme in place of Simone Rota and Shirmar Felongco in the 80^th.

Jarvey Gayoso was the lone Kaya player to make his way into the referee’s book, receiving a yellow card following an off-ball incident in the 39^th minute.

It took a little shock to the system for the boys to wake up fully, and hopefully this will serve as a lesson for the remaining games on the schedule. Kaya FC-Iloilo will return to face Maharilka Manila FC on the 27^th of August at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.