Kaya-Iloilo’s good start was enough to seal a 2-1 win over Stallion Laguna in the 2022-2023 Philippines Football league, Sunday at the PFF National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.
Yu Hoshide’s men enjoyed an early two-goal lead thanks to goals by Daizo Horikoshi and Jhan Jhan Melliza in the eighth and 21st minutes.
Stallion, though, pulled one back just before the halftime break thanks to Kouichi Belgira’s strike in the 41st minute.
Come the second half, Kaya earned a penalty in the 66th minute after Stallion’s Gabriel Silva brought down Fitch Arboleda.
Stallion goalkeeper Michael Asong, though, denied Robert Lopez Mendy’s spot-kick with a left-sided save.
Kaya’s afternoon then became harder as Simone Rota was given a straight red card in the 77th minute with a high boot at the expense of Stallion’s Alen Angeles but Stallion failed to salvage a leveller in the end.
The result means that Kaya extends its lead at the top of the table with 27 points behind nine wins and two defeats.
On the other hand, Stallion remains in fourth place with 15 points on the back of five wins and four losses.
