PFL: Kaya-Iloilo firms up league lead after whipping Maharlika-Manila
FILE – Kaya-Iloilo.
MANILA, Philippines–Kaya-Iloilo stretched its lead in the title race behind a clinical performance to beat Maharlika-Manila, 5-0, on Saturday in the Philippines Football League at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Daizo Horikoshi added to his goalscoring tally while Eric Giganto, Jhan-Jhan Melliza, Dylan Nobiraki and Tamon Harikoshi also found the mark as Kaya easily got the victory over Maharlika in a battle between the top and bottom teams in the standings.
In taking the full three points, Kaya improved to 36 points on 12 wins and three defeats, 11 clear of Dynamic Herb Cebu which now has three games in hand.
Coach Yu Hoshide, however, believes Kaya still has plenty of room for improvement three weeks into the resumption of the league.
“We always had a slow start in the last three games. But there was plenty of energy in the second half and at least we were able to get three points,” said Yoshide.
Maharlika lost for the 13th time in 14 matches to remain below the standings with just one point.
Horikoshi put Kaya on the board 16 minutes in with a low attempt from 15 yards for his 11th goal of the league campaign.
Nobiraki doubled the lead for the league-leaders before the first half stoppage time, tapping the ball with his left foot off a scramble in the box.
Melliza made it 3-0 early in the second half when he scored from the spot, Giganto took advantage of Horikoshi’s cross to fire a left-footed volley for the game’s fourth goal in the 68th.
Horikoshi’s brother Tamon produced his first goal since his acquisition in the midseason break, sliding in from close range after a short cross from Jarvey Gayoso in the 82nd.
