Key tiff for Kaya against Home United in Singapore

Kaya Iloilo hopes to keep its knockout phase hopes alive in the AFC Cup as it clashes with reigning Asean zone champion Home United of Singapore Tuesday night in their final Group H match at Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.

Running second in the group, the Filipino club needs maximum points against the S-League side to stand a chance of reaching the zonal semifinal as the top second-placed team from among the three Asean groups in the competition.

Thanks to its 5-1 drubbing of Lao Toyota at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City two weeks ago, Kaya still has an outside chance of reaching the knockout phase.

On top of a win against Home United, coach Noel Marcaida’s men also need Hanoi to lose to Tampines Rovers in Group F and Ceres Negros to beat Becamex Binh Duong in Group G to make the zonal semifinals for the first time.

The two other matches are slated on Wednesday, which means Kaya would have to wait one more day to determine its fate even if it wins over Home United.

Jovin Bedic returns from a one-game suspension due to accumulated yellow cards as the Kaya skipper teams up with Ghanaian striker Jordan Mintah, who is coming off a hat trick against Lao.

“It’s important for us to focus on Home United first before thinking about the other results,” said Bedic, who scored in the 5-0 win over Home United in their home leg at Panaad Stadium in March.