JPV, Kaya score huge wins, keep foes winless

JPV Marikina and Kaya FC Makati kept Stallion Laguna and Ilocos United winless with emphatic away victories last Wednesday in the Philippines Football League.

Japanese striker Takumi Uesato bagged the first hattrick in the history of the league to propel JPV Marikina to a 4-0 triumph at Biñan Football Stadium, while Kaya FC Makati leaned on Ghanaian striker Jordan Mintah’s superb play in a 4-2 drubbing of Ilocos United at Quirino Stadium in Vigan.

JPV skipper Takashi Odawara accounted for the other goal for the Marikina side, which hiked its tally to six points for fourth spot.

Uesato opened the scoring nine minutes before halftime and added another goal just five minutes after the restart. After Odawara struck in the 51st minute, Uesato, playing in his second season with Marikina, completed his hat trick in the 76th minute.

Mintah scored on a penalty and was also involved in the three other goals for the Makati club, which had seven points on two wins, a draw and a loss.

Mintah earned the penalty that Adam Reed promptly converted to open the scoring in the 23rd minute, before setting up strike partner Robert Lopez minutes later.

After Filipino-Nigerian striker Chima Uzoka pulled one back for Ilocos, Mintah was back tormenting Ilocos, assisting on Joven Bedic’s goal. Mintah got on the score sheet later on with another penalty, before Uzoka scored from the spot in stoppage time to peg the final score.

Ilocos absorbed its second loss in three matches.

“It was a time, but you have to expect that the home team will fight until the last whistle,” said Makati coach Noel Marcaida. “But for us, we took advantage of the two goals in the first half.”