Mert Altinoz fires brace, Arda Cinkir scores dagger as Cebu clips Kaya Iloilo in home debut

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASIG—Mert Altinoz prevailed over Robert Lopez Mendy in their shootout as Dynamic Herb Cebu reclaimed the top spot in the PFL table with a 3-2 win against Kaya Iloilo in its first match at its own turf, the Dynamic Herb Stadium in Talisay City.

Both Altinoz and Mendy ran the show as they accounted for four of the five goals in the match, but Altinoz's brace weighed more than Mendy's own two-goal showing as Cebu continued its hot run in the first part of its four-match home stand.

Mendy put on an early silencer to the sold-out crowd by scoring the opening goal in the 18th minute to put Kaya Iloilo ahead.

Altinoz, however, put Cebu level with Kaya Iloilo in the 33rd minute to bring the crowd into a frenzy.

He then opened the second half with his second goal just seconds into the restart to put Cebu ahead, 2-1.

Arda Cinkir then slotted what would be the dagger goal for Cebu in the 50th minute.

Mendy kept Kaya Iloilo in the match with an 83rd-minute goal, but the club could not find at least the equalizer in the end.

Cebu has now won five straight matches after a winless spell in its first three games and is back at number one in the standings with 20 points.

Kaya Iloilo, on the other hand, lost for the second time in the season and dropped to third place with 18 points.

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