Kaya Iloilo. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Kaya-Iloilo came so close to producing a first-ever point in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League on Tuesday after conceding a late goal in a 2-1 home loss to Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos on Tuesday at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Yan Mattheus supplied the winner three minutes before stoppage time as Kaya was left heartbroken with yet another defeat in Asia’s top-tier club competition despite putting up a spirited challenge against the champions of Japan’s J1 League.
The Philippines Football League winners and finalist of the Copa Paulino Alcantara lost for the fourth time in as many matches in Group G.
Daizo Horikoshi, the Japanese winger playing against the club located in his hometown of Kanagawa, had equalized in the 39th off a terrific counterattack, canceling out Yuhi Murakami’s opener for the visitors 13 minutes earlier.
A red card handed to Robert Lopez-Mendy in the 82nd left Kaya a man down, and Yokohama eventually took advantage to win for the third time in four matches, equal on nine points with group leader Taishan Shandong of China.
Officially eliminated from progressing past the group stage, Kaya has two matches left in its Champions League campaign, going to Jinan, China on Nov. 28 to face Shandong and hosting South Korea’s Incheon United on Dec. 12.
Meanwhile, Stallion-Laguna faces Malaysia’s Terengganu anew, this time as host in Wednesday’s AFC Cup match at Binan Football Stadium.
Stallion will be aiming to finally get a first AFC Cup win after settling for a 2-2 draw against the Malaysian Super League side on the road two weeks ago despite having a two-goal lead.