KAYA Makati surged for its fifth straight win after beating Ilocos United, 2-1, to clinch the solo lead of the Philippines Football League (PFL) last Sunday at the Quirino Stadium in Vigan City.
Jordan Mintah again delivered the goods. He nailed the game-winner in the 81st minute that gave the Makati-based squad its 26th point for the solo lead.
Kaya Makati stood two points clear of Meralco Manila, which settled for a hard-fought 2-2 draw with third running Global Cebu last Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Four days ago, Mintah scored a hattrick to propel Kaya Makati to a 5-2 win also over Ilocos United in their first round clash at the University of Makati Stadium.
“It was a tough game. It’s really difficult to play back-to-back matches against the same team,” Kaya Makati Coach Noel Marcaida said. “This was the kind of match where we struggled to create opportunities. Ilocos really played well defensively.”
True enough, their second meeting was tougher.
Robert Mendy opened scoring in the 32nd minute but the Ilocanos were too gritty and equalized, 1-1, on John Kanayama’s penalty kick in the 63rd minute on a handball committed by Kaya’s Jalsor Soriano.
And thanks again to Mintah, Kaya sent Ilocos to its ninth lost for three points—all from draws.
Stallion Laguna, meanwhile, pulled off another upset by beating JPV Marikina, 2-1, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium also last Sunday.
Stallion Laguna, which snapped a 10-match slump with a 2-0 victory over Marikina in Biñan last week, reasserted its mastery over Marikina to improve to sixth place with 10 points.
JPV remained in fifth place with 18 points.