PFL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Title contenders and newcomers were among the clubs that won their opening matches as the Philippines Football League got underway its sixth season over the weekend.
Kaya-Iloilo downed United City, 2-0, at Rizal Memorial Stadium for a winning start to its quest to retain its league title while Dynamic Herb Cebu rolled past Loyola FC, 4-0, in front of home supporters in Talisay City.
Stallon-Laguna dominated Don Bosco Garelli, 7-0, while One Taguig debuted on a high note after a second-half surge to beat Manila Montet, 4-1, both at the Rizal pitch.
READ: PFL opens sixth season in Manila, Talisay
Manila Digger, one of 10 new teams that gave the league a record field of 15, was also triumphant in its maiden PFL match at the expense of Philippine Army, 3-2.
Mendiola FC 1991 and Maharlika-Taguig posted contrasting results to get themselves in a good position to produce better results after lagging at the bottom of the table when the league had just five teams.
Mendiola spoiled Philippine Air Force’s PFL return, 7-0, while Maharlika overcame Tuloy FC, 3-2, in a five-goal thriller.
READ: PFL welcomes 10 teams for new season
Eric Esso, a new signing from Ghana, put Kaya ahead four minutes after kickoff but had to wait until the 80th to double the lead courtesy of veteran Jhan-Jhan Melliza.
Cebu, which finished second to Kaya in last season’s league table, got two goals apiece from new additions Abou Sy and Dutch footballer Zamoranho Ho-a-tham to win at home.
The league added more teams, mostly on the amateur side, to the mix, which could determine how the quality of play will be throughout the season, especially against PFL mainstays.
One of the clubs that prevailed was Taguig, which broke the ice early in the second half Tsukasa Shimomura’s penalty and goals from ex-Kaya midfielder Nano Amita, Patrick Grogg and Naoto Hiraishi.