Miguel Tanton came close to be sent off but his free kick that led to Alfred Osei's winner gave Kaya Iloilo pole position in Group B. PFL |
MANILA -- Kaya Iloilo had to scrape past JPV Marikina by the slimmest of scorelines to top Group B in the first match of the Wednesday Copa doubleheaders tonight at the Rizal Memorial.
Alfred Osei became the hero for Noel Marcaida's men with his 75th-minute effort being the lone difference as the league's runner-up topped their group in their first half of the schedule, taking maximum points in their pair of fixtures.
Four yellow cards were flashed by referee Ariel Montana in a heated encounter, and Miguel Tanton came close to be sent off multiple times.
Osei stuck his right boot in the second ball after Tanton's free kick with the ball flying to the top-right corner of Nelson Gasic's net.
Marikina had several chances in the entire match, but it was not enough for them to avoid defeat for the sixth straight encounter against Kaya all season.
Kaya Iloilo: Villanueva (GK), Villaseñor, Omura, Tacusalme, Bedic (C) (A. Menzi 90+4'), Ugarte (Giganto 64'), Tanton, M. Menzi, Osei, Lopez-Mendy, Angeles (Pasinabo 83')
JPV Marikina: Gasic (GK), Tsubasa, Shimono, Moriyasu, Uesato, Uzoka (Baguioro 64'), Angeles (Celiz 81'), Basa, Unabia, Ybañez (Fadrigalan 75'), Marcojos
Follow him on Twitter: @KevinLEstrada