MANILA – Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo kicked off its title defense in the Copa Paulino Alcantara 2022 with a close 1-0 win over Maharlika Manila FC on Monday night at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.
Daizo Horikoshi was the lone goal scorer for the Iloilo City-based football club as they took the early lead in the standings with 1-0-0 win-loss-draw for three points.
Kaya-Iloilo was unable to make an attempt in the first 10 minutes of the game before Ryo Fujii, Horikoshi, Ilonggo Shirmar Felongco and Eric Giganto came up with close chances.
The Iloilo City-based booters continued searching for their first goal before the break with Robert Lopez Mendy and Horikoshi falling short with their shot attempts.
Horikoshi finally punched a goal for Kaya-Iloilo in the first minute of the second half. He took advantage of confusion among the players inside the box.
Kaya-Iloilo had chances to double the advantage but Lopez Mendy’s header sails wide while Ilonggo Jovin Bedic also misfired his close range attempt.
The Ilonggos suffered a blow at the 69th minute with Giganto being pulled out from the match after sustaining a leg injury. He was replaced by Fitch Arboleda.
Maharlika Manila, for its part, also had opportunities to tie the score but could not penetrate through the defense of Kaya-Iloilo keeper.
Kaya-Iloilo still went on with its attempt to widen the lead in the final 10 minutes with the closest from Bedic at the 83rd minute but failed to find the target.
Copa 2022 fixture resumes on March 21 at the same venue with Maharlika Manila trying to annex their first victory this season against Mendiola 1991 FC./PN
