Kaya, Ceres seek first AFC Cup KO-phase stints

UNITED Football League powerhouse Kaya seeks to extend its impressive run in the AFC Cup when it clashes with Kitchee of Hong Kong today in a crucial Group F battle at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Kickoff is at 3 p.m. with the Filipino side hoping to make it four wins in a row that will also ensure its place in the knockout round of the second-tier continental club competition.

Ceres-La Salle also hopes to make history in Kuala Lumpur where it collides with Selangor in Group E at 8:45 p.m. at Selayang Stadium.

Victories by Kaya and Ceres will send the two Filipino squads to the knockout stage for the first time. The AFC only started giving slots to Philippine teams in the tournament last season.

“It’s an important game for us if we want to qualify to the next round and finish on top of the group,” said Kaya stand-in coach Joel Villarino.

With nine points from four matches, Kaya can also clinch top spot in the group with a victory, which meant home field advantage in the one-game playoff in the Round of 16.

Kaya has been the surprise package of the tournament, rebounding from the opening-day 0-1 loss to Kitchee with home victories over New Radiant of Maldives and Balestier Khalsa of Singapore.

With Alfred Osei, Kenshiro Daniels and Louis Clark finding the back of the net, Kaya also whipped Balestier, 3-0, in Singapore two weeks ago.

Kitchee reached the semifinals in 2014 and the quarterfinals last year.

But caretaker coach Alex Chi said the sweltering conditions could give his teams problems especially with the early kickoff.

“The first concern is the weather,” Chi said. “Most of our AFC Cup games are at night.”

Ceres, on top of its group with eight points, is also chasing the same advantage with Selangor (7 points) likewise gunning to take top spot.

But Ceres will miss Spanish winger Bienvenido Maranon who will serve a suspension due to a couple of yellow cards.

Maranon scored the opener in the 2-1 win over Tampines Rovers at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod last April 12.