Defending champion Kaya-Iloilo snatched top spot in the Copa Paulino Alcantara following a 4-0 victory over the Azkals Development Team on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite.
The rematch of last year’s Copa Final turned out to be a mismatch as Kaya leaned on two first-half goals from veteran Robert Lopez Mendy to secure the full three points and leapfrogged United City FC for the lead in the standings.
Carlyle Mitchell also scored in the first half while Daizo Horikoshi produced his third goal of the competition in the second half, putting Kaya at 10 points after four matches, two clear of United City.
Kaya also extended its unbeaten run in domestic competitions to 13 consecutive matches dating back to the 2020 Philippines Football League season.
ADT, which came off a 1-1 draw against Stallion-Laguna last April 11, stayed in fourth spot with four points through four matches.
It was the first meeting between both clubs since the final last November, with Kaya ending up taking the Copa trophy with a 1-0 win, but the personalities were different this time. Jarvey Gayoso, Oskari Kekkonen, Sandro Reyes and Mar Diano leaving ADT for Kaya during the offseason while the developmental side opted to field mostly young players that will likely suit up in next month’s Vietnam Southeast Asian Games.
Kekkonen was the only ex-ADT player available for Kaya, which made two changes in the starting lineup with former Mendiola goalie Kenry Balobo getting the nod over Zach Banzon and Japanese midfielder Ryo Fujii in lieu of Diano.
Only four players from the last match were retained in the ADT start list, with goalkeeper Quincy Kammeraad, one of the holdovers from last year’s squad, seeing action for the first time in the 2022 competition.
Kaya went in front 20 minutes into the match when Lopez Mendy, with help from Jovin Bedic, beat the ADT defense before firing a shot past Kammeraad.
It didn’t take long for Kaya to double its lead as Mitchell scored a header off Horikoshi’s cross in the 23rd.
Lopez Mendy capped off his impressive showing in the 30th when he received Horikoshi’s deflected cross before turning around to complete a brace and 3-0 advantage for Kaya.
Horikoshi put himself on top of the tournament’s goalscoring chart in the 80th with a cool finish off a ADT miscue. The Japanese winger has scored three times since the Copa began.
Kaya won’t see action until May 2 against Stallion-Laguna while ADT will meet Maharlika Manila on April 25.