Gayoso’s hat-trick steers Kaya FC to 4-1 win over Maharlika Manila

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Kaya FC-Iloilo continued its dominant campaign in the 2022 Philippines Football League (PFL) after crushing Maharlika Manila, 4-1, held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Former national team member Jarvey Gayoso spearheaded Iloilo’s majestic performance with a hat-trick and helped his squad remain perfect in the ongoing 2022-2023 season.

Gayoso wasted no time buckling to work and immediately delivered the goods in the 13^th minute to draw the first blood against Maharlika.

The two-time UAAP champion with the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles got past Maharlika’s backline defenders and tapped the ball with ease for his first goal.

However, Maharlika’s in-game adjustments fortified its defensive hold and prevented Kaya FC from another conversion for almost 30 minutes.

Kaya FC successfully penetrated in the 41^st minute and broke through the Maharlika defense. During that sequence, Iloilo was able to score its second goal after Carlyle Mitchell sent in a header off a Jhan-Jhan Melliza cross pass.

The second half of the match then turned into a Gayoso striking clinic after completing his hat-trick with goals in the 78^th minute and the 80^th minute.

OJ Clarino finally put Maharlika in the scoring column after a late-game effort in the extension period but wasn’t enough to will his team to a come-from-behind victory.

With the win, Kaya FC notched first place in the PFL rankings with four-straight wins and improved their tally to 12 points.

Iloilo will look to extend its winning streak to five-straight victories as they take on the defensive-minded Stallion Laguna next Saturday at 7 PM.