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Kaya Iloilo midfielder Miguel Tanton (foreground, left) charges at the ball while Davao San Miguel Aguilas defender Joshua Grommen tries to get in his way. Aguilas’ forward Phil Younghusband (background, left) and Matt Hartmann look on. IAN PAUL CORDERO/PN
KAYA Iloilo made a rousing debut at its home field at the Iloilo Sports Complex in Iloilo City as it defeated Davao San Miguel Aguilas 4-2 in the 2018 Philippines Football League on Sunday.
Robert Lopez Mendy finished with a hat-trick while Jordan Mintah made a conversion for Kaya, which moved up to second place with 16 points on five wins, a draw and two losses.
“We were really looking forward to this game – our first here in Iloilo,” said Kaya head coach Noel Marcaida. “The players were motivated by the support shown by football-loving Ilonggos.”
Kaya drew first blood early in the match courtesy of Mintah from a feed by Ilonggo Jovin Bedic. But Mintah hurt his knee in a collision and was stretchered off in the next play.
With Aguilas missing in its attempts, Kaya managed to double the advantage just before halftime – Lopez Mendy intercepted a pass by Aguilas’ Nicholas O’Donnell for a close-range shot.
Davao was able to pull one back early in the second period courtesy of a header by James Younghusband. Iloilo quickly extended the lead with Lopez Mendy scoring a header from a free kick by Miguel Tanton.
Aguilas trimmed the deficit anew 2-3 in the 69th minute with Takashi Odawara converting from a corner kick. Kaya raised the advantage after Lopez Mendy scored on a header from a Tanton free kick.
Davao Aguilas dropped to third place with 14 points on four victories, two draws and three defeats./PN
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