By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Kaya FC-Iloilo rediscovered its winning ways and decimated Mendiola FC 1991, 4-0, to get back on track in the Philippines Football League (PFL) last February 26, 2023, held in Imus, Cavite.
After a disappointing loss on their home pitch at the Iloilo Sports Complex against rival Visayan squad Dynamic Herb Cebu FC, Kaya FC made it up after stamping its class on Mendiola to stay at the top of the PFL standings.
Daizo Horikoshi drew first blood for the Iloilo-based club after striking past Mendiola’s goalkeeper in the 40:47 mark of the first half.
Horikoshi dribbled past his defender on the left side of the pitch and stepped on the gas pedal once he reached the penalty area and fired a thundering strike for the 1-0 lead.
Ilonggo Janjan Melliza then doubled Kaya FC’s lead after a leftie kick just inches away from the left side of the penalty area 22 minutes after Horikoshi cashed in their first goal.
Kaya FC wasn’t done doing damage and scored another conversion courtesy of the connection between Arnel Amita and Horikoshi.
The goal was set up after a through ball to Horikoshiwho directly fired a lob pass to Amita who was already rushing in the middle of the pitch.
Dylan Nobiraki then put the icing on the cake after following up on Horikoshi’s miss for their fourth and final goal of the match.
It was actually Mendiola that started aggressively after immediately scoring a clean goal attempt only seven minutes into the match.
However, Kaya FC’s relentless attack and well-oiled offense overwhelmed Mendiola for the rest of the match and piled up their 33rd point of the ongoing PFL conference.
