By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo vented its ire at Mendiola 1991 Football Club with a 4-0 beating in the 2022-2023 Philippines Football League (PFL) at the City of Imus Grandstand in Cavite on Sunday afternoon, February 26.

Daizo Horikoshi, Ilonggo Jhan Jesus Melliza, Nano Amita, and Dylan Nobiraki scored a goal each as the Iloilo City-based football club recovered from a 3-2 loss to Dynamic Herb-Cebu Football Club last week in Iloilo City.

After struggling with their shots early in the first half, Kaya-Iloilo drew first blood in the 41st minute as Horikoshi struck the ball off a counter attack to take the lead at the half.

Melliza and Amita then scored back-to-back goals in the 63rd and 64th minutes, respectively, to give Ilonggos a 3-0 lead before Nobiraki sealed the win with his 77th-minute conversion.

Kaya-Iloilo widened its lead on top of the standings with 33 points, with 11 wins and three losses, while Mendiola is in fifth place with six points on two wins and 11 defeats.

Meanwhile, Miggy Mendoza scored an equalizer in the second half as Stallion-Laguna Football Club held Dynamic Herb to a 1-1 draw at the Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna.

Mendoza broke the hearts of Dynamic Herb-Cebu as he scored on a volley from close range off a loose-ball scramble following a corner kick in the 70th minute.

Prior to that, veteran Papu Corsame surged the Cebuanos ahead in the 35th minute as he struck a curler goal from a tough angle at the left side of the box.

With the outcome, Dynamic Herb-Cebu stayed in second place with 25 points on seven wins, four draws and a loss, while Stallion-Laguna had 16 points on five wins and six losses.

Also, Azkals Development Team got a huge lift from Andres Aldeguer as they defeated Maharlika Manila Football Club, 4-1, to stay in third place with 18 points./ASC, WDJ