Jarvey Gayoso scores winner as Kaya Iloilo deals United Clark 1st defeat in homecoming

By Ivan Saldajeno

MAKATI--Jarvey Gayoso played as the hero for Kaya Iloilo as the star striker scored the go-ahead goal that gave his club a 2-1 win against United Clark in its return to the place it calls home, the Iloilo Sports Complex in Iloilo City.

Gayoso hit the winner in the 78th minute even as Kaya Iloilo made up for a costly blunder just before halftime that could have denied the club of the win in its first home match since 2019.

Nano Amita brought the home crowd to a frenzy after pulling a double nutmeg to score a 35th minute goal for a 1-0 Kaya Iloilo lead.

Marco Casambre, however, was caught for a handball inside the box while trying to clear out Pika Minegishi's cross, and former Kaya Iloilo star Kenshiro Daniels slotted the penalty at the top side of the goal for the equalizer just before referee Clifford Daypuyat called it a half.

The decider came with 12 minutes left in regulation time when Gayoso, who came on as a substitute, received a short cross from Ryo Fujji and drilled in a pointblank goal.

Drama, however, ensued in the second half stoppage time as Gayoso's supposed dagger just seconds into the extension was waved off due to an offside infraction.

The bigger drama came right on the final set piece of the match when Daypuyat whistled for a foul against a United Clark player that nullified a supposed equalizer that could have forced a draw.

Daypuyat then gave coach Frank Muescan a yellow card for entering the pitch.

With the win, Kaya Iloilo moved up to 30 points and opened a six-point lead against United Clark, which remained at 24, at the top of the table ahead of the FIFA World Cup break.

United Clark suffered its first loss in domestic play since Kaya Iloilo also defeated them on the final match of the 2020 PFL bubble season in Carmona.

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