Defending champion Kaya-Iloilo leaned on the early second half goal from Daizo Horikoshi to defeat returning Maharlika-Manila, 1-0, Monday, March 14 to begin the Copa Paulino Alcantara at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite.
The Japanese winger fired a left-footed shot barely outside of the box which spelled the difference and gave Kaya the maximum three points to formally kick off the domestic football season.
Kaya had plenty of opportunities to add to its lead, but chances were begging against a Maharlika side that came in as heavy underdog in its return to top-flight competition after skipping last year’s Copa.
But Kaya went on to extend its unbeaten run in local competitions to 10 straight matches dating back to the shortened 2020 Philippines Football League season.
After a busy two weeks that began with a 5-0 loss to Sydney FC in the qualifying round of the AFC Champions League, Kaya gets a long break heading back to the pitch on March 28 against United City.
Maharlika, which last saw action in the 2020 PFL, tries to bounce back on March 21 against debuting Mendiola FC 1991.
The goal came after Horikoshi dispossessed David Basa before finding the back of the net which the Maharlika defense and goalkeeper Hendi Bandeken couldn’t prevent.
It was Horikoshi’s third goal since joining Kaya two years ago.