MANILA – Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo maintained their perfect record in the 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara via a 5-1 domination of Far Eastern University Tamaraws on Monday night at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
Abou Sy spearheaded the offense with two goals, while Ilonggos Jovin Bedic and Jan Jesus Melliza and Mar Diano added a conversion each as the Iloilo City-based booters completed a sweep of their Group A matches.
Kaya-Iloilo opened the scoring in the fourth minute as Diano converted a header from a free kick by Arnel Amita. The lead was doubled eight minutes later as Bedic capitalized on the opponent’s defensive miscue for a conversion.
Two minutes later, Melliza made it a 3-0 score as he converted a powerful strike from distance but the Tamaraws managed to pull one back just before the halftime break courtesy of Selwyn Mamon.
After misses to start the second half, the Iloilo City-based football club finally added to their advantage in the 74th minute as Sy knocked one in from close range from a pass by Robert Lopez Mendy.
Kaya-Iloilo then put on the finishing touches of the match as Sy completed his brace in the 77th minute with a well-placed tip in from a missed strike by Lopez Mendy from the box.
Amita, who was named as the Man of the Match, admitted that they had a hard time at some point following the ejection of goalkeeper Kenry Balobo after an altercation with Mamon late in the first half.
“Sobrang hirap kasi nag-down kami ng 10 men. Sobrang nag-adjust kami sa tactical (nung second half) nagawa naman kasi na-execute namin ang gameplan namin,” Amita said in a post-game interview.
“Dine-dedicate namin ang game na ito kay Balobo and dun sa performance ko naman, hindi ko naman magagawa ‘yun kung wala ang tulong ng mga teammates ko,” added the former FEU standout.
The Colum Curtis-mentored Kaya-Iloilo will next prepare for the quarterfinals round of the competition as well as their upcoming AFC Champions League game against South Korea’s Incheon United FC on Oct. 3./PN
