By: Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The last game of the 2019 Philippines Football League season proved to be an unhappy ending for Kaya FC.
PFL champs Ceres Negros-FC cemented their 2019 crown with an impressive season-ending victory against runner-ups and rivals, Kaya FC-Iloilo, 3-0.
Kaya FC marched into the battle pitch with a depleted lineup, missing the services of Alfred Osei, Marwin Angeles, Mike Casas, Shirmar Felongco, and Jalsor Soriano.
Despite the absence of their mainstays, the Iloilo-based squad was able to put out a solid defense, deflecting multiple long crosses to keep Ceres’ offense at bay.
While their defense proved steady, Kaya struggled on their offense throughout the match, losing possession of the ball far too often.
Iloilo was able to hold and prevent a Ceres goal for the whole 70 minutes until star midfielder Stephan Shrock struck a cross to an open OJ Porteria which the latter headed in for their first goal.
The momentum shift was evident as the Negros squad shifted gears after their first conversion, with Bienve Marañon adding to their goal tally with a powerful kick inside the box.
Kaya tried to bounce back and create a valiant run courtesy of Darryl Roberts, but they fell short.
As the game drew to a close, James Younghusband then iced the game with a tap inside the box off a Shrock assist.
