TEN-MAN Kaya Makati needed a first half strike from Marwin Angeles to subdue a gritty Stallion Laguna side, 1-0, last Sunday, while JPV Marikina recorded a second straight victory in the Philippines Football League.
Angeles, a former national team player, was quickest to react to a loose ball inside the box in the 40th minute, firing past Stallion keeper Roland Sadia for the only goal of the match as Kaya went into the international break on a winning note at University of Makati pitch.
The result boosted Kaya to 10 points from five matches for second spot, two points behind Meralco Manila, which has played only four games so far.
Over at Rizal Memorial Stadium, goals from David Basa and Kouichi Belgira propelled JPV Marikina to a second straight victory at the expense of Ilocos United, 2-0.
Basa rose above everyone else to head home a corner in the second minute of first half stoppage time as JPV vaulted past Global Cebu to third spot with nine points from five matches.
Signed from Meralco early this year, Belgira got his first goal of the season in the 65th minute, doubling the advantage for the Marikina side
Miguel Tanton was sent off in second half injury time for a second yellow card, marking the third straight match that Kaya had a player getting a red card.
But the stellar first half performance plus some composed goalkeeping from Zach Banzon in the second half ensured that Kaya picked up maximum points for the second straight game.
“In the first half we kept the ball well,” said Angeles. “We knew Stallion would come out strong because they were coming from a loss to JPV.”
Senegalese striker Robert Mendy wasted a couple of good chances in the first half for Kaya, including a close range outside the foot effort and a one on one chance that was stopped by Sadia. But Kaya did just enough to stifle the Stallion attack.
The Laguna side’s best chance came late in the second half when substitute Nicholas Ferrer fired a rocket from way out only to be denied by the crossbar.
“In the second half, we had a lot of players struggling,” said Kaya coach Marcaida. “We have to address it as a team because, it’s the third consecutive game where we really struggled in the second half. But we’re happy we got three points in this game, and we’re looking forward to the long break before the Meralco Manila game on June 17.”
