THE WINNING streak of Kaya FC-Iloilo at the Philippines Football League was stopped at five after it was forced to a 0-0 draw by Green Archers United FC on Saturday at the Philippine Football Federation National Training Center in Carmona, Cavite.

The hottest team entering the contest, Kaya struggled against GAU, whom it defeated in the league opener, 4-0, in May, to have its unblemished record spoiled as it dropped to a 5-1-0 record.

The two teams had their chances to go to the scoreboard early with Kaya’s Yannick Tuason getting two good looks inside the first 10 minutes while GAU’s Marvin Angeles also having his dibs for his team.

But they would continue to fight at nil-nil by the halftime break.

In the second half, the two teams tried to get one over the other but like the opening fold they would hold their ground and eventually settled for the draw and a point each for their efforts.

After the match, Kaya coach Noel Marcaida said finishing was a problem for his team in the game and reiterated that they have to do a better job at it if they are to maintain success in their campaign.

“The difference today is the finishing. It’s not that we were having a hard time creating chances, it’s about the fire and the killer instinct to want to score. We had some chances, especially in the first half that should’ve 100% been converted,” he said.

Adding, “We controlled the full 90 minutes in terms of possession. But it doesn’t matter how much control you have, if you don’t score, you can’t win. We will have to improve on that.”

Despite the draw, Kaya remains at the top of the heap with 16 points, three points clear of second-running and defending champion Ceres-Negros FC (4-1-0), whose game with Stallion Laguna FC also on Saturday at the Biñan Football Stadium was cancelled due to unplayable pitch because of adverse weather conditions. The game will be rescheduled to a later date.

Green Archers United (3-2-2), meanwhile, is at fourth place with 11 points. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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