KAYA-Iloilo and United City FC remain unbeaten after registering contrasting victories Saturday in the Philippines Football League at the PFF National Training Center bubble in Carmona, Cavite.
Kenshiro Daniels struck in the first half as Kaya-Iloilo FC overcame Azkals Development Team, 1-0.
Spanish striker Bienve Marañon netted a hat-trick to highlight UCFC’s 6-0 dismantling of Mendiola FC.
Kaya-Iloilo and UCFC continued to share on top of the league table with maximum of six points.
Taking advantage of a defensive lapse from Mar Diano, Daniels scored the match’s lone goal in the 16th minute as Kaya-Iloilo followed up its season-opening 1-0 win over newcomer Maharlika Manila FC.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Carlyle Mitchell also shone in the defensive end for Kaya-Iloilo, clearing away several potential ADT’s attacks.
“Without Mitchell we would not have won,” said Kaya- Iloilo FC’s Japanese coach Yu Hoshide.
Coming off a valiant 0-1 loss to UCFC last Wednesday, the ADT squad was more active this time and had some bright moments, but it just lacked the finishing touches as it remained without a point in the event presented by Qatar Airways and sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board.
“That we had three points for the win and came away with no serious injuries,” said Hoshide, as Kaya-Iloilo overcame a physical match.
Displaying his form that became the AFC Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer, Marañon opened the match with a header in the 12th minute, added another 13 minutes later and a third from the penalty spot to lead UCFC.
Senegal’s Robert Lopez Mendy came up with a brace with goals in the 38th and 60th minutes, while Mike Ott scored his second goal of the season with a 52nd minute penalty kick to cap the lopsided match.
“We definitely played better than our last game and I think that our rivals just gave up mentally after falling behind 4-0 in the first half,” said UCFC assistant coach Frank Muescan.
With the game out of reach, UCFC was able to hand pro debuts for young guns Miggy Clariño and Pocholo Bugas.
Muescan said his side can still improve.
“We still have to dominate as much as we can on ball possession and we really want to impose our will against the opposition by overloading more players inside the box,” said Muescan.
