CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines-Kaya-Iloilo moved within a victory of clinching the Philippines Football League (PFL) title following a 5-1 drubbing of tailender Maharlika-Manila on Saturday at PFF National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite.
A four-goal romp in the first half was all Kaya needed to secure the full three points with a game to spare in the league season.
The club’s best chance to finally lift its first-ever league crown is tentatively on May 27 against Stallion-Laguna.
But the championship can also be handed to Kaya on Sunday if second-running Dynamic Herb Cebu suffers a slip-up against visiting Stallion-Laguna with a draw or a defeat at its home pitch in Talisay City.
Kaya extended its lead to 52 points through 21 matches, eight clear of Cebu which has two games at hand.
Japanese players Dylan Nobiraki and Damo Horikoshi along with Fitch Arboleda and team captain Jovin Bedic accounted for the goals Kaya produced in the first half.
Daizo Horikoshi extended his hold as the season’s top goalscorer when he scored for the 15th time during the second half.
Maharlika avoided a shutout defeat with less than 20 minutes left after Ibrahim N’Dour scored a consolation goal.
But that didn’t prevent Maharlika from staying below the table with just four points in 19 games.