Playing with great power, Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo successfully punched the semis ticket in the 2023 Copa Paulino Alcantara after blasting the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 8-0 in the second of the two-leg quarterfinals at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.
The Iloilo City-based football club won the quarterfinals with an aggregate score of 11-0 after scoring a 3-0 victory over the Fighting Maroons in the first leg.
Leading the assault, Abou Sy and Eric Giganto contributed big for Kaya-lloilo with two goals each, while Mar Diano, Justin Baas, Robert Lopez-Mendy, and Curt Dizon added a conversion each in the leg 2 win.
Both teams started slow in the opening but
after series of goal attempts, Kaya-Iloilo drew the first blood in the 39th minute, courtesy of a Diano header before it was followed by a connection by Sy four minutes later.
The scoring spree continued as Baas fired one from the edge of the box to make it 3-0 in the 44th minute before Kaya-Iloilo closed the first half with the second conversion of Sy from close range.
Kaya-Iloilo widened the lead further in the second half as Lopez-Mendy knocked in a header from a pass by Jovin Bedic in the 63rd minute as the defense of the Fighting Maroons crumbled.
Just before the end of the match, Kaya-Iloilo knocked in three more connections courtesy of newcomer Dizon in the 86th minute followed by back-to-back strikes from Giganto for an 8-0 score.
After a blowout win, the Ilonggos will wait for the winner of the Stallion-Laguna Football Club and Maharlika Manila Football Club quarterfinals series for their opponent in the two-leg semifinals round.
Meanwhile, Davao Aguilas-UMAK Football Club booked their ticket to the semifinals round following a 2-0 aggregate score victory over Club de Futbol Manila in the quarterfinals round.IMT Sports
