Ghanian striker Jordan Mintah scored the winning goal late as Kaya-Makati nipped Ilocos United, 2-1, Sunday night to grab the solo lead in the Philippines Football League at the University of Makati Field.
Mintah scored his ninth goal of the season nine minutes before stoppage time off a corner from Miguel Tanton to hand host Kaya its fifth straight win and leapfrog idle Meralco-Manila for the top spot in the eight-team league with 26 points after 13 matches.
Kaya is two points ahead of Meralco, which was held to a 2-all draw at home by Global-Cebu Saturday.
Robert Lopez Mendy put Kaya ahead in the 31st minute, but visiting Ilocos leveled the count past the hour mark when John Kanayama scored a penalty kick.
Ilocos, the league’s worst team, remained winless after 12 matches, posting just three points on three draws.
Earlier, Stallion-Laguna scored two late goals courtesy of Gabriele Mascazzini and Jhan-Jhan Melliza to stun JPV-Marikina, 2-1, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Mascazzini leveled the score in the 87th before Melliza struck the go-ahead goal two minutes later to hand Stallion its second straight after going winless in its first 11 games.
JPV absorbed its fourth consecutive defeat.