By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Kaya FC-Iloilo survived a tough challenge from Stallion Laguna FC after nipping them, 3-2, in the ongoing Philippines Football League (PFL) on June 30, 2024.
With another green mark in the winning column, the Iloilo-based football club just retained its perfect win-loss sheet and improved to 11 wins, one draw, with no defeat.
Unlike its past two matches where Kaya FC just steamrolled their way to back-to-back lopsided wins, the game against Stallion Laguna became a physical encounter for 90 straight minutes.
From the get-go, Stallion Laguna made it hard for Kaya FC to score points as they deployed their defensive covers to disrupt any easy through balls and cross-pass deliveries.
As the minutes went by, the match also turned into a highly physical affair as both squads weren’t willing to give any clear looks into their respective goalposts.
However, during the extension period before the first half expired, Ilonggo Jhan Melliza broke the hearts of Stallion Laguna after drawing first blood for a momentum-boosting 1-0 lead.
In their final attack to close the half, Eric Esso found Melliza trailing in the corner side of Stallion Laguna’s penalty box. After gathering the ball, the Ilonggo striker cruised past two defenders for the terrific conversion.
The Melliza rampage didn’t end there as he turned into a facilitator in the second half, rifling a precise corner pass that led to a header from Audi Menzi in the 58th minute of the match.
Just when Kaya FC thought Stallion Laguna would remain silent with time wasn’t on their side, the club then changed the complexion of the match after scoring their first goal courtesy of Francisco Gomez.
Jarvey Gayoso then retaliated for Kaya FC as he scored their third and last goal off a well-executed volley kick in the 88th minute of the game.
Stallion Laguna trimmed their deficit to just a point after salvaging a score in the extension minutes, thanks to Abe Placito’s resiliency.
With only two minutes remaining, Stallion Laguna tried their all to equalize the match but Kaya FC wisely ran the clock out to extend its undefeated streak in the PFL.
