The much anticipated return of the Philippines Football League clubs saw Kaya FC-Iloilo hammer old rivals Loyola FC, 7-0, in Saturday’s Copa Paulino Alcantara triple header at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
In a rematch six years in the making, it was Kaya that found themselves on top, and preparing for the continental competition while Loyola mark their return with a a new resolve after last appearing in 2017.
Justin Baas and Fitch Arboleda combined for two goals apiece as the PFL champions showed no signs of rest in their first cup match to move up to the standings, and at the same time compound Loyola FC to four points as they exit the group stage.
New signing Ricardo Sendra headed in Kaya’s opening goal in the 11th minute. Daizo Horikoshi fired a cross to the path of the Argentinian for the free header.
Arboleda netted his first of two goals at the half-hour mark. Horikoshi was once again involved in the play, providing the cut back for Arboleda, who unleashed a right footed shot past Javi Coscolluela.
Baas added a third goal three minutes later after Horikoshi’s cross from the left flank was half-cleared into the path of the defender for the finish. Arboleda made it 4-0 in the 43rd minute with a shot from outside the box.
Kaya continued their form in the second half as Baas scored their fifth goal in the 50th minute with a left footed strike that went past the bottom corner. The debuting Abou Sy also joined in on the goalscoring spree in the 57th minute with a tap-in after another Horikoshi pass.
Another Kaya debutant in Mark Swainston fired Kaya’s seventh goal after a broken play in the Loyola box allowed Eric Giganto to slot it to the path of the midfielder, who sent his shot past an open goal.
Elsewhere in Group B, Maharlika Manila FC and Manila Digger FC played to a 1-1 draw in the opening kickoff to collect their first points of the competition.
Jhon Azares slotted home the opener in the 39th minute. Marco Cauyong bursted free on the right flank and set a low cross into the box that was sent away by the Maharlika defense, but found Azares free on the top of the box as his deflected effort found the top corner.
Ibrahima Ndour however ensured the points was shared with his 62nd minute strike.
Group C action saw Davao Aguilas-UMak FC and Mendiola FC 1991 finished the match with ten men each after a thrilling 3-3 contest.
Marvin Angeles’ 94th minute equalizer, coupled with a Yannick Tuason brace denied Mendiola FC a debut win despite going ahead three times in the match as Nicolai Abalos, Kirk Rozal, and Elljhone Rasonable all found the back of the net for the San Beda side.
However tensions between the two sides grew in the 75th minute as both Davao’s Nicolas Ferrer and Mendiola’s Yuan Reña were handed a straight red card after an altercation between the two players resulting from a hard foul by Ferrer.
Davao maintained their lead in Group C with 10 points while Mendiola are in fifth with one point on the board.