Kaya FC-Iloilo Win Fourth Straight, Putting Eight Goals Past CF Manila The yellow & black have scored 35 times in four Copa fixtures, their AFC Champions League preparations in full swing.

Kaya FC-Iloilo have surged to the top of the Group A standings, dethroning Club de Fútbol Manila in an 8-0 victory on Sunday night. This concludes a run of four consecutive wins to start this year’s Copa, serving as the run up to the club’s imminent return to Asia’s top flight.

Head Coach Colum Curtis experimented with a new formation in the first period, one that found limited success in open play until the dying minutes of the half. The team’s execution of the new game plan slowly and steadily got sharper, eventually overrunning Manila’s disciplined backline for a three-nil lead at the break.

“Our main objective is always the three points, but the performance is something that’s really really important to me as a coach and to the technical team,” noted Coach Curtis.  

“We made some changes throughout the game, particularly at halftime, that seemed to be very effective in personnel and tactically.”

In the second half, Kaya reverted to the tactics that worked very well for them in their previous four outings—with the player lineup rotating to keep fresh legs on the pitch. 

The adjustment proved fruitful with the second unit securing an additional five goals to close out the game. For MOTM Ricki Sendra, this result was par for the course considering the upcoming challenge the team has been preparing for all this time. 

“For me, I’m very happy for the victory. This was our last game before the Champions League, so we have to perform like that and we have to win like that,” Sendra stated. 

This year’s Kaya FC-Iloilo side have been dominant on the domestic stage so far, but their true test still awaits and is coming up fast. In two weeks’ time, the Philippine representatives will host Chinese outfit Shandong Taishan FC in the AFC Champions League Group Stage—live at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. 

 

Player Spotlight: 

Gayoso Go-Go-Goes 
Coming off a second half brace in the last match, Jarvey returned to the starting eleven to lead the offensive line. The King Eagle made the most of his 85 minutes, making his presence felt all over the pitch as he put his versatility and workrate on full display. 

The forward’s production left little to be desired as well, getting on the scoresheet with a high point header and setting up both goals of Daizo Horikoshi’s latest brace. 

 

Showtime Sendra
With a spectacular first half performance, Ricki bagged himself his second PFL Man of the Match honor of the tournament. The Argentinian midfielder ran the show as the central pivot, allowing the team to  work out the kinks in their new formation. 

In addition to his latest set piece finish, the target man also found himself on the distributing end of Gayoso’s highlight header—a goal and an assist for the pistolero.  

 

Amita’s Adventure Time 
Given the freedom to attack the spaces in the front line, Nano has been making himself at home on the scoresheet—notching himself a brace off the bench. The Maco native was a spark plug, spreading joy to the team and bringing the crowd to its feet with his rocket from 30 yards out.