Kaya finally scores after nipping HK

–Kaya-Iloilo FC

Kaya-Iloilo, despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half, found a way to register its first win in Group E of the AFC Champions League Two after defeating host Eastern FC, 2-1, Thursday at Mongkok Stadium in Hong Kong.

Veteran striker Robert Lopez Mendy converted the winner with a penalty in the 86th minute as the Philippines Football League titleholders finally secured the maximum three points after three defeats to open their continental campaign.

The victory, which also avenged the heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Eastern at Rizal Memorial Stadium two weeks ago, ended an 18-match losing streak for Kaya in all Asian Football Confederation club competitions.

That stretch spanned three years since Kaya defeated Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port, 1-0, in the playoff round of the 2021 Champions League in Thailand.

Vengeful beating

Kaya prevailed despite squandering a 1-0 lead on Daizo Horikoshi’s spot kick in the first half, losing Jovin Bedic to a straight red card and an equalizer by Eastern’s Marcus Gondra in the 70th.

Substitute Jess Melliza was fouled during a counterattack, allowing the Senegalese-born Mendy to score the winning goal.

Dynamic Herb Cebu, meanwhile, was handed a 9-2 beating by vengeful Muangthong United in their Group H affair at Rizal Memorial.