Kaya-Iloilo bows out in Women’s Champions League

Kaya-Iloilo missed out on a chance to qualify for the knockout stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League after a 4-0 loss to Australia’s Melbourne City in their final Group B match Saturday in Pathum Thani, Thailand.

All four goals were conceded in the first half, the first three coming in the opening 10 minutes of the contest, which eventually contributed to Kaya’s shattered bid to progress past the group stage of its maiden stint on the continental front.

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Kaya’s exit was confirmed later in the night when Iran’s Bam Khatoon defeated Thailand’s College of Asian Scholars, 2-1. Bam Khatoon advanced after placing second in the group on four points, trailing Melbourne City with 12 points after winning all three matches.

Kaya placed third with two points compiled on a pair of draws with College of Asian Scholars and Bam Khatoon, but failed to qualify for the quarters after emerging as the inferior team among the three third-placers.

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China’s Wuhan Jiangda and Chinese-Taipei’s Taichung Blue Whale claimed the two best third-place slots after posting three points each in their respective groups.

The three group winners, the three group runners-up and the two best third-placers will qualify for the knockout phase.

Kaya participated in the first-ever Women’s Champions League by virtue of winning the 2023 PFF Women’s League.

The team coached by Let Dimzon opened the campaign with a scoreless tie against College of Asian Scholars before salvaging a 1-1 tie against Bam Khatoon after Joyce Onrubia struck the equalizer near the final whistle.