Kaya FC-Iloilo put on a dominant display against Ateneo de Manila University, notching a 7-0 victory for their third consecutive win in the PFF Women’s Cup. Seven goals from four goal scorers was the story of the night, the result of a balanced and near unstoppable attack by the yellow and black. 

Shelah led the charge up top like always, flanked on the wings by Irish Navaja on the left and Cesca Crespo on the right. Bhebe Lemoran, Hazel Lustan, and Ryannie Dahildahil formed the midfield; while Kate Dacanay, Mary Lam, Mea Bernal, and Zhyrelle Belluga filled the backline. Khryss Dacanay set up between the sticks to start the game.

Irish Navaja struck the opening blow, getting on the score sheet in just the third minute of action. A high cross into the box by Zhyrelle Belluga drew the opposing goalkeeper out of position, who had to scramble backwards to contest the winger’s volley. 

Ateneo tried to  clear the danger, but the ball ended up right back with Kaya’s  #9. In front of a wide-open goal, Irish cut back to her left to avoid an oncoming defender and buried her shot into the back of the net. (1-0) 

The lead doubled in the 16th minute after Shelah Cadag earned a free kick from a little over 20 yards out. The forward took the set piece herself, slotting her strike just inside the goalposts and  cleanly into the top left corner. (2-0)

Just two minutes later, Kaya continued their relentless downpour of goals with a highlight reel play from Hazel Lustan. Receiving a perfect through pass between the lines from Bhebe Lemoran, Kaya’s #10 got into a one-on-one situation with the keeper—whom she cleverly broke around before gently tapping the ball into the undefended net in the 18th minute. (3-0)

Lustan wasn’t satisfied with just the one goal, however, and got her chance to secure a brace in the 25th minute of action. Lemoran was bowled over from behind in a similar spot to the earlier free kick, this time roughly 25 yards from goal. The Barotac Nuevo native struck the set piece with power, leaving the Ateneo goalkeeper no chance of reaching her looping ball as it sailed over her fingertips, under the crossbar, and into the back of the net. (4-0)

The scoring continued well into the second half, bringing the tally up to five in the 63rd minute. Lemoran delivered a direct ball to Cadag up top, who laid it off to Nicole Ramores who was charging up the middle. Bearing down on the edge of the penalty area, Estong cut the ball right to the outside of her defender and fired a missile straight into the bottom left corner. (5-0) 

Shelah saw the favor returned not long after, notching a brace of her own in the 71st minute. The forward capped off a sizzling counterattack by pulling off a spinning Puskas V-Turn into a shot at the edge of the box, but the attempt was deflected and looked to be heading out for a corner. 

Kyra Dimaandal corralled the rebound, however, and cut middle along the endline before crossing the ball back into the box. Cadag struck it first time just outside the six-yard box, and the lead ballooned to six. (6-0)

Not one to miss out on the ongoing brace party, Ramores found the back of the net once more in the 85th minute. Kyra was brought down near midfield on a foul, but the ref called play on and Kaya pressed the advantage. Bhebe, who recorded two assists on the night, played the ball forward to Nicole in acres of space.

Kaya’s #23 calmly drifted to her proven spot, close to where she scored her earlier goal: at the edge of the box and inside the penalty arc. Taking her time and lining it up, Estong buried her shot into the bottom left corner once more. (7-0)

Coach Marigen Ariel used all of her available substitutions on the evening:

• Kyra Dinmaandal, Nicole Ramores, and Kim Pariña were sent into the game after the halftime break, replacing Cesca Crespo, Ryannie Dahildahil, and Khryss Dacanay.
• Mae Sullano checked into the game for Kate Dacanay in the 57th minute.
• Sophia Lyttle relieved Zhyrelle Belluga, coming on in the 65th minute.
• Lastly, Suettie Simoy entered the game for Shelah Cadag in the 75th minute.

It was a clean game for the yellow and black, with no Kaya players making their way into the referee’s book.  

Kaya Women’s look to repeat as 7’s Champions in the 7’s Football League on Sunday, November 20; before heading back to the PFF National Football Center to face the University of the Philippines on Wedensday, November 23.