Imus, Cavite — In response to last week’s heartbreaker in Cebu, Kaya FC-Iloilo put up a dominant performance away against Mendiola FC 1991. The 0-7 scoreline featured six different goalscorers, and the boys took all three points and climbed back to the top of the league standings.
Kenry Balobo started in between the sticks for Kaya, supporting a center-back pairing of Simone Rota and Camelo Tacusalme. Audie Menzi and Fitch Arboleda started the game as fullbacks, and ahead of them were Daizo Horikoshi and Eric Giganto on the left and right respectively. Arnel Amita, Marwin Angeles, and Ryo Fujii made up Iloilo’s midfield, while Robert Lopez Mendy led the way up top.
Robert wasted no time getting on the score sheet, continuing his excellent run of play in just the 2nd minute of the match. In their very first offensive sequence, Ryo Fujii found the striker with a perfect through pass—of which Robert finished cleanly into the bottom left corner. (0-1)
On a set piece in the 21st minute, Daizo Horikoshi floated his free kick into the six-yard box for Simone Rota. The veteran defender rose up to head the ball back, combining perfectly with his backline partner Audie Menzi who found the back of the net with a header from point-blank range. (0-2)
Iloilo found their third goal of the afternoon in the 29th minute with the Kanagawa Speedster providing the finish this time around. Playing out of a short corner kick with Arnel Amita, Horikoshi curled into the edge of the Brave Men’s box and fired with his left—the ball hitting the far post on its way in. (0-3)
The scoring parade continued in the second half courtesy of Eric Giganto in the 55th minute. Daizo’s outswinging corner cut directly through the six-yard box where it ended up ricocheting between Eric and his defender. The ball fell perfectly in front of Kaya’s #9, who converted the point-blank chance for goal number four. (0-4)
Robert Lopez Mendy secured his brace in the 63rd minute following a sequence where he gathered the ball outside the penalty area, dribbled past three defenders up the left side of the box, and got taken down by a desperate sliding tackle to earn a penalty. The striker took it himself, sending the keeper the wrong way and going bottom left once again. (0-5)
Getting in on the action in the 67th minute was Ryo Fujii, who notched his first goal of the 2022 PFL season. Capping off some stellar buildup in the midfield, the playmaker received a through pass from Fitch Arboleda inside the Mendiola box—where he coolly took a touch with his right and clinically finished low and to the left. (0-6)
Jhan Melliza put the cherry on top in the 84th minute with the help of Daizo’s second assist of the fixture. Horikoshi sliced goalwards down the left endline, drawing in two defenders and playing a pass back through one’s legs. Jhanjhan struck it first time with his trusty left foot; and from such a close range, the keeper had no chance. (0-7)
After the dip in confidence that was the away match against Cebu FC, this performance was just what the team needed to bounce back into winning ways. Free-flowing play leading to goals galore as well as a clean sheet, it truly was seventh heaven for Kaya in Imus.
Coach Yu Hoshide used four of his five available substitutions in this match, starting with Jhan Melliza and Shirmar Felongco checking in for Eric Giganto and Simone Rota in the 64th minute. Jarvey Gayoso relieved Robert Lopez Mendy in the 76th, while Captain Jovin Bedic graced the field for Arnel Amita in the 86th. No Iloilo players made their way into the referee’s book in this fixture.
Next up for the men’s team is a return to the Rizal Memorial Stadium for a rematch with Maharlika Manila FC on October 22.
