Kaya FC-Iloilo Surges Back to Win Fourth Straight Round 3 of the 2022-23 PFL Season draws to a close with a comeback victory over the Azkals Development Team.

It’s not how you start that’s important, but it’s how you finish. Finding themselves trailing in the early goings, Kaya FC-Iloilo turned in three goals for a come from behind win at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Aggressive out of the gates, Kaya looked to blitz the young Azkals the same way they did Stallion Laguna a week prior. However, the tables turned when a momentary gap opened in the backline that led to Aldeguer’s opener in the tenth minute. 

“We started really well, but we conceded a goal. That’s why I cannot say it was a good start,” said head coach Yu Hoshide.  

On the comeback trail for the first time since the Cebu match, Iloilo responded to their rude awakening with a barrage of chances—including a Jhan Melliza sitter and a dangerous cross into the box from Eric Giganto. 

Kaya eventually found joy with Audie Menzi’s equalizing header, poetically rectifying the concession at the other end. Jarvey Gayoso hammered in the go-ahead goal right after halftime, and Arnel Amita put the nail in the coffin for the second game in a row. 

“But we really bounced back, we did a really great job especially in the second half,” Hoshide stated. “Of course we are still on the way, so we have to improve more and more to achieve our goal.”

With Round 3 in the books for Iloilo, the team’s looking at a long break ahead of them before the season resumes in April—and Coach Yu plans to make the most out of the time off.

“First of all, some of our players really need this recovery period; and on the tactics side, we still have plenty to improve on and build up.”

He also praised Audie Menzi’s recent run of form, even winning the afternoon’s man of the match award.

“Starting this year, he’s really been growing up. I hope that he can continue to do all that and more,” Hoshide remarked. 

2022-23 Philippines Football League action will return on April 15, a rematch with this same ADT side at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. 

 

Player Spotlight: 

Mighty Menzi
The Benquet baller has been a steadying, physical presence for Kaya in every match so far this year—be it his staunch man-marking or his displays of creativity in build up. His goal opened the floodgates and inspired the comeback, skying over two marks to score Kaya’s 50th of the season.

With the effort the boys showed from the opening whistle, it was only right that a member of the backline made amends and drew the score level. 

Jarvey’s Jetstreams
Gayoso’s second half strike was reminiscent of one his earliest moments in a Kaya uniform. Coming off the bench during the 2021 AFC Champions League, Jarvey exploded up the left half space to create one of the best chances of the game.

The striker flashed that same top speed here, this time seeing it through to the end with an powerful, yet technical finish.

Daizo’s Delivery Service
Somehow, Horikoshi quietly put up three assists in this match—which brings his total to fifteen on the season. ADT did a semi-decent job at containing the Golden Boot frontrunner, so he simply redirected the spotlight elsewhere.  

A perfectly placed corner to Menzi as well as two bombs forward for Gayoso and Amita—just another day in the office for the prolific Daizo.