By: Icko de Guzman
Manila Digger dealt another blow to Kaya-Iloilo’s title defense, grinding out a 1-0 victory in Saturday’s Philippines Football League clash at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Baboucarr Touray delivered the decisive strike in the 33rd minute, lifting Manila Digger to nine wins and 30 points for the season — good for fourth place in the standings.
Kaya, meanwhile, slipped to second place after suffering back-to-back defeats.
Touray capped off a swift attacking sequence after Moudou Manesh spotted him unmarked on the right flank. The forward calmly finished from close range, beating Patrick Deyto to break the deadlock.
Kaya searched for an equalizer, but attempts from Mike Ott, Jhan Melliza, and Julius Myrbakk failed to truly trouble Omar Njie in goal, as Manila Digger held firm to secure all three points.
In the other Saturday fixtures at Rizal Memorial Stadium, Stallion Laguna cruised to a 4-0 victory over DB Garelli United.
Finn McDaniel starred with a hat-trick in the 25th, 59th, and 79th minutes, while Aaron Vasquez opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, keeping Stallion in fifth place with 24 points.
Meanwhile, in Talisay City, Cebu, DH Cebu dominated Maharlika, 4-0, at the Dynamic Herb-Borromeo Sports Complex to provisionally leapfrog Kaya at the top of the table.
Kaito Asano and Rhino Goutier struck early in the sixth and 17th minutes, before Clyde Vitualla and Abou Sy added late goals to complete the rout.
League action resumes Sunday at Rizal Memorial Stadium, with Aguilas-UMak facing Valenzuela PB-Mendiola at 4:00 p.m., followed by One Taguig taking on Tuloy at 7:00 p.m.
