Kaya satisfied over solid July record at PFL
KAYA FC-Makati fell short in winning its sixth straight game at the Philippines Football League for the month of July last Sunday after settling for a 1-1 draw with Stallion Laguna FC, but the team was nonetheless satisfied, all told, over how it was able to handle itself amid a tough and packed schedule.
Playing seven matches in July, Kaya (8-3-3) recorded five wins and two draws to thrust itself back at the top half of the heap with 27 points, joint first with FC Meralco Manila (8-3-1).
Its significance is not lost to the team, especially since during that stretch it made its way from outside the top four all the way to the top and how the solid record for the month gave much confidence to it moving forward in the first season of the newly created national football league.
“For the month of July we did well. Having seven games unbeaten — drawing two, and winning five — it’s a pretty good record. We were able to meet our objective of getting more points in the month of July. Now we regroup and focus our attention on our succeeding games,” said Kaya coach Noel Marcaida after their game against Stallion in Biñan.
Kaya had some good chances in putting itself in good position for a sixth straight win but just could finish them.
Forward Robert Mendy had two great chances to score in the opening period, but his early free header went over, and his curling effort inside the box could only graze the post.
Teammate Jordan Mintah opened the scoring from close range five minutes into the second period, heading in Janrick Soriano’s wonderful delivery from the right flank.
But the lead turned out to be short-lived as four minutes later Dan Villarico levelled for the host team off a rebound from teammate Jhan-Jhan Melliza’s shot.
The two sides fought hard to gain control the rest of the way, with some tense moments between them, but the score would hold to leave the game a stalemate and the teams earning a point each.
“Switching off for a split second, in a game like this, can cost you a goal, especially on the counterattack. And it happened in this game,” observed Mr. Marcaida.
“I think my players played well. It’s just that we couldn’t finish despite the many chances that we got. So, that’s one aspect of our game we need to work on. We take the one point, learn from it, and move on,” he added. —