Dream Debut for Kaya FC–Iloilo
Kaya FC–Iloilo 4-2 Davao Aguilas
Iloilo Sports Complex
May 20, 2018; Iloilo — Kaya FC–Iloilo made the perfect start to their journey in Iloilo, running out 4-2 winners over Davao Aguilas in an action packed affair at the Iloilo Sports Complex. Robert Lopez Mendy’s hat-trick lifted the LBC-backed club, after Jordan Mintah had opened the scoring.
“We achieved our objective. We wanted the fans to go home happy,” said Iloilo head coach Noel Marcaida. “It’s a victory that will be written in the history books.”
The match got off to a perfect start for the hosts. Within a minute from kickoff, the ball was in the back of the net. After a clever exchange of passes on the left flank, Iloilo-native Jovin Bedic played a precise pass for Jordan Mintah to fire in. The goal was the Ghanaian forward’s seventh of the season. Unfortunately for Mintah, not long after, he suffered an injury that forced him off prematurely. While he was in the back receiving treatment, Robert Lopez Mendy doubled the advantage.
Faced with an innocuous high ball, and under little pressure, Davao goalkeeper Nick O’Donnel fumbled his catch, and dropped the ball into the path of Lopez Mendy for the simple tap in. The half ended with Kaya in control and two goals ahead.
“There was pressure in that it was our first game in front of the Ilonggos – our first chance to showcase how Kaya plays. That first goal took the pressure off” said Marcaida. “We played so solidly, not just defensively, but in attack as well. The players really wanted to get maximum points for all the fans.”
The Aguilas responded shortly after the restart, with James Younghusband nodding in from a corner kick to half the lead. Lopez Mendy restored the two-goal cushion just seven minutes later, though, glancing in Miguel Tanton’s free kick.
Takashi Odawara’s well taken volley gave Davao hope once more, but it was short lived. Less than five minutes after conceding, Kaya scored their fourth. From another Tanton free kick, Lopez Mendy connected with a thumping header to complete his hat-trick and put the game beyond reach.
“It was not luck at all, I’ve been trying so hard over the last few weeks” responded Robert on whether there was some good fortune involved in his hat-trick. “It’s just a result of the team work.”
1,205 flocked to the Iloilo Sports Complex for Kaya FC–Iloilo’s coming out party, including Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., who stepped onto the pitch for a ceremonial handshake with the players before the start of the match.
The result was Kaya FC–Iloilo’s fourth straight win in the Philippines Football League, propelling the club to the top of the table with 16 points from eight matches. Ceres Negros dropped to second, but is still in the driver’s seat as it’s played two less games and is only a point behind the current leaders. Meanwhile, Davao sit third, with 14 points from nine outings.
Next, Kaya will play Global Cebu on Wednesday, May 23.
