Kaya-Iloilo bows to Yokohama in another AFC Champions League loss

Yokohama F. Marinos vs Kaya Iloilo FC in the AFC Champions League.

Yokohama F. Marinos vs Kaya Iloilo FC in the AFC Champions League. –AFC

MANILA, Philippines–Kaya-Iloilo’s chances of sneaking a point disappeared after giving up two second half goals to absorb a 3-0 away defeat to Japanese champion Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League.

The Philippines Football League winners fell a goal down on Kota Mizunuma’s opener in the first half before Yokohama got the needed cushion courtesy of scores from Kenyu Sugimoto and Anderson Lopes in the final 20 minutes of the match held at Yokohama International Stadium.

It was the third straight defeat in as many matches for Kaya, which remained at the bottom of Group G behind Chinese Super League squad Shandong Taishan and South Korea’s Incheon United.

Kaya, which allowed 10 goals and scored just once halfway into the continental campaign, will play host to Yokohama on Nov. 7 at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The match served as a homecoming for Kaya right winger and PFL Golden Ball winner Daizo Horikoshi, who hails from Yokohama.

Mizunuma scored for Yokohama in the 35th minute, but Kaya tried to give itself an opportunity to draw level, even after the halftime break.

But Sugimoto’s goal in the 72nd put an end to Kaya’s hope while Lopes struck a third during stoppage time for Yokohama.

Meanwhile, Dynamic Herb Cebu plays host to its AFC Cup match with Myanmar’s Shan United while Stallion-Laguna visits Malaysian side Terengganu on Thursday.

Both teams have each dropped their two first matches in Asia’s second-tier club competition.

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