Kaya FC Iloilo blasts fancied Ceres Negros, gains second in PFL

MANILA, Philippines — Kaya FC Iloilo finally broke the stranglehold of Ceres Negros FC with a 2-0 victory right at the latter’s home territory to zoom to second spot in the Philippines Football League Saturday night at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod.

Robert Lopez Mendy and Alfred Osei scored in the first half as Kaya, despite playing with 10 men in the last 30 minutes of play, beat the Busmen for the first time after six consecutive defeats in the PFL.

“The heartbreak is over,” said Kaya coach Noel Marcaida. “It was a collective effort, everyone worked so hard especially after we went down to 10 men.”

The Iloilo booters drew first blood 10 minutes into the game with Miguel Tanton playing a free kick to Jordan Mintah, who issued a perfect pass to Lopez Mendy for the tap-in. 

The Busmen had a golden opportunity to draw level when Takumi Uesato was brought inside the area, leading to a penalty by Bienvenido Maranon but Kaya custodian Ace Villanueva ably stopped the Spaniard’s low shot. Kaya doubled the lead just before the break with Osei making good on Tanton’s brilliant set-up and in the second half, the visitors hung tough despite the exit of Camelo Tacusalme, who was booked for the second time after clashing with Stephan Schrock.

Villanueva earned man of the match honors in the Western Visayas duel.

“When the penalty was called, I just stayed composed. I kept telling myself, ‘I can save this. It doesn’t matter who takes it, I can save this,” said Villanueva.