Days before both sides would see action in continental competition, Kaya-Iloilo and Stallion Laguna posted easy wins against their opponents as the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Copa Paulino Alcantara kicked off at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Cachuela heroics not enough as UP succumbed to Kaya, 3-0
Despite missing key players in foreigners Akito Saito and Ricardo Sendra, Kaya-Iloilo turned on the jets to breeze past the UP Fighting Maroons in a quarter-final first leg that could have been more lopsided if it weren’t for the heroics of UP keeper Erick Cachuela.
The match was an intense and highly physical affair from the get-go. Former Ateneo de Manila striker Jarvey Gayoso would see the first of his many shots denied by Cachuela in the 3rd minute, but wouldn’t be denied after volleying home a botched Joseph Huelva clearance in the 13th minute. Fitch Arboleda would almost make it two a minute later, but Cachuela was there again to deny him, saving another effort from Arnel Amita in the 35th minute. Kaya would amass corner after corner, but the highest-scoring side in the competition initially found goals hard to come by as Cachuela was in the form of his life. Kaya keeper Quincy Kammeraad was left with relatively little to do but almost got caught out in the 27th minute as Reynaldo Fornis exploited a napping Kaya defense, only for the referee to call for a foul.
The second half began in the same manner as the first, with Kaya finally finding the back of the net a second time after a rare Cachuela error parried the ball onto the head of an onrushing Gayoso. UP would almost score a header of their own, but Cian Galsim blazed his effort over the bar. The physicality of the contest culminated with a scuffle in the 70th minute, as a reckless challenge by UP captain Marc Tobias took down Mar Diano, much to Kaya’s chagrin. Two goals and one man down, UP would see their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals slip away even further, as substitute Robert Lopez Mendy finished off Curt Dizon’s slick through pass.
The match ended 3-0, with Kaya continuing their flawless form in the Copa against a UP side coming off of impressive results against other PFL sides. UP play Kaya again on Sunday, October 8, while Kaya play a midweek fixture on Tuesday against Incheon United of the K-League in their ongoing AFC Champions League campaign.
Summer signings see Stallion brush aside resolute Maharlika Manila
After routing Adamson University last Sunday, Stallion Laguna were once more on the right end of a lopsided scoreline as they put five past fellow PFL outfit Maharlika Manila in the first leg of their Copa Paulino Alcantara quarter-final.
The opening 15 minutes saw a much more balanced match than the score suggested, as the resolute Maharlika defense saw little pressure from Stallion, with the only half-chance being a dangerous Shirmar Felongco cross that keeper Yosuke Suzuki tipped over the bar. Maharlika almost took the lead in the 14th minute, but Michael Simms failed to capitalize on a Hayeson Pepito slip. 12 minutes later, however, Argentinian winger Cristián Ivanobski finally broke the deadlock with a powerful drive from the edge of the box. Stallion would make it two just five minutes later after Yuta Nomura scored his seventh of the tournament from close range. Nomura was again involved in the 40th minute as he won a penalty, and Ivanobski would make it three for Stallion and two for himself after converting it.
Having not threatened for the last 20 minutes of the first half, Maharlika started the second half brightly as substitute forward Ibrahima Ndour was brought down in the box, but no penalty was given. Stallion, however, would quickly reassert their dominance, with substitute and former Maharlika player Zachary Ford being the biggest cause of concern. Ford would see two of his efforts go just wide, but would eventually score a goal that seemed to be coming with a shot that bounced both off the ground and crossbar before going in. Maharlika’s night continued to be frustrating and went from bad to worse, as Balot Doctora finished off the rout with a well-placed volley after a clever one-two with Kouichi Belgira.
With a tough tie against the Central Coast Mariners of the A-League coming up, the eventual 5-0 result would be a sweet one for Stallion, who looks to have regained the form that they lost after a tough 1-0 upset against Mendiola and a 5-2 beating at the hands of Bali United. Maharlika, who had a stellar group stage campaign, have everything to do when the two sides meet on October 8.
