–Kaya-Iloilo FC
MANILA, Philippines–The country’s representatives in club competitions of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) gained the upper hand after the first leg of their respective quarterfinal ties, so is one of the remaining non-Philippines Football League sides in the Copa Paulino Alcantara at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Kaya-Iloilo claimed a 3-0 win over University of the Philippines while Stallion-Laguna rolled past Maharlika-Manila with a 5-0 triumph on Friday to both seize the big advantage going into their return matches next week.
Dynamic Herb Cebu downed Mendiola FC 1991, 2-0, in Saturday’s opener before the nightcap witnessed Davao Aguilas-University of Makati scoring in the second half to edge CF Manila, 1-0.
Second leg matches are slated Oct. 8 and 9 at Rizal Memorial, with the teams that have aggregate lead advancing to the semifinals of the annual cup competition that gives the champion an AFC berth.
Kaya, Stallion and Cebu took care of their domestic duties before heading overseas for the resumption of either their Champions League or AFC Cup stints.
Kaya will visit Incheon United in a Champions League match on Wednesday while Stallion also plays the same day in the AFC Cup against the Central Coast Mariners in Australia.
Cebu is scheduled to face MacArthur FC the following day in Sydney for its second AFC Cup game. All three clubs dropped their opening assignment on the continental front.
Jarvey Gayoso scored twice and Robert Lopez Mendy produced a late goal to put Kaya ahead against the only UAAP team to get out of the group stage.
Cristian Ivanobski’s brace highlighted Stallion’s mastery of Maharlika while sandwiched between both goals was the one scored by Yuta Nobura in the first half.
Ryo Togashi and Arda Cinkr accounted for the goals scored in each half to put Cebu in a good position before facing Mendiola anew for a crack at a third straight Copa semis berth.
Troy Limbo produced a well-placed strike near the hour mark as Davao put one up over CF Manila, another team outside of the PFL which is still in the running.