Rizal Memorial Stadium — Kaya FC-Iloilo battled to a hard-earned 1–0 victory over Stallion Laguna FC, with Eric Esso’s thunderous second-half strike proving the difference in a tense, physical affair.
The opening half saw both sides trade spells of possession, each probing for an opening but finding little joy against compact defenses. Captain Jhan Melliza provided a lively threat from the onset, forcing an early save in the 7th minute with a close-range effort. In the 24th minute, his corner found Marco Casambre rising highest in the box, but the defender’s header sailed just wide of the post. Melliza nearly broke through again in the 41st minute after being played in by Jovin Bedic—only for his off-foot strike to be denied by the keeper. Despite several promising moments, the deadlock remained heading into halftime.
Early in the second half, Kaya earned a golden opportunity when a handball in the box handed Melliza a penalty in the 47th minute—but the captain’s effort from the spot was denied by Stallion’s Jack Landreth, keeping the score level. Rather than deflating the side, the miss only sharpened Kaya’s resolve. Alfredo Cortez and his backline held firm, with the keeper alert to a low driven shot in the 68th minute, while yellow shirts threw themselves in the way of danger—blocking, deflecting, and cutting out almost every Stallion chance before they could truly threaten.
The decisive moment arrived in the 73rd minute. A long ball from Marco Casambre was mishandled by Stallion’s Ismaila Diallo, allowing Eric Esso to pounce on the loose ball and chase it down as it bounced into the box. The Ghanaian midfielder unleashed a thunderous half-volley that crashed off the crossbar and over the line—an unstoppable strike that broke the deadlock and put Kaya ahead. (1-0)
Stallion pushed forward in the closing stages, but Kaya’s defense absorbed the pressure with composure. Mike Ott nearly sealed it late on, his curling effort from the edge of the box drifting just wide in the 87th minute.
In the end, Esso’s moment of brilliance proved enough. Kaya leave RMS with another clean sheet, another win, and another display of grit and discipline—as their perfect start to the title defense continues.
Starting Lineup: 4-3-3
LF: Del Rosario ST: Bedic RF: Melliza©
CM: Ott CDM: Muens CM: Esso
LB: Menzi CB: Casambre CB: Yamazaki RB: Diano
GK: Cortez
Subs: Bata, Deyto, Zambrano, Angeles, Daniels, Arboleda, Rota, Basindanan, Bugas, Rey
Coach Yu Hoshide made just three substitutions in this match:
- Kenshiro Daniels and Paolo Bugas replaced Jhan Melliza and Lucas Del Rosario in the 63rd minute.
- Brandon Zambrano checked in for Jovin Bedic in the 79th.
Kaishu Yamazaki was all business tonight, but found himself in the referee’s book on a yellow following a crunching tackle on former Kaya player, Ricardo Sendra.
