Kaya FC–Iloilo Fire Five Past ASEAN Champions in First AFC Cup Home Match
Kaya FC–Iloilo (Philippines) 5-0 Home United FC (Singapore)
March 13, 2019
Panaad Stadium
March 13, 2019; Bacolod, Philippines – Kaya FC–Iloilo made sure their first home match in the 2019 AFC Cup was one to remember. Braces from Darryl Roberts and Alfred Osei, and a goal from Jovin Bedic fired the hosts to a five-goal victory over the reigning ASEAN champions from Singapore, Home United.
Kaya got off to the perfect start, with Darryl Roberts heading in from close range in just the second minute of the match.
“This whole week we’ve been working hard in training, especially on set pieces,” said Roberts, who was named Man of the Match. “We just executed what was taught on the training pitch and for the first one it worked out well.”
The visitors then threatened to level the score almost immediately, but were denied by a goal-line clearance.
“We got an early wake up call. Masanari Omura was able to stop an opportunity from Home United. That woke us up. We then accepted the challenge, created opportunities, and we scored goals,” said Noel Marcaida after the match.
The second goal came just after the half hour mark. Roberts made the assist, as Jovin Bedic cut inside his man and blasted a shot past the keeper to double the advantage. Darryl made it three not long after, latching on to Connor Tacagni’s low cross for a close range finish. Iloilo entered the break flying with confidence, and they kept their foot on the gas in the second, scoring almost instantly after the restart.
From a free kick, Roberts broke free from his man and cut the ball back for Jordan Mintah. The Ghanaian forward’s shot was blocked, but the ball fell kindly for Alfred Osei to place in the top corner from close range. Osei then doubled his tally in the 56th minute. Mintah’s cross was headed away, but only as far as Alfred, who clinically volleyed the ball for Iloilo’s fifth of the match.
Roberts, Mintah, and substitute Yannick Tuason all came close to adding a sixth as Kaya kept ramping up the pressure, but United were spared any additional damage.
“This victory really means a lot to us. Not only is it a gift for our boss, Santi Araneta, who celebrated his birthday two days ago, and for Mike Casas who celebrated yesterday, it’s for one of our players whose mom is in a critical situation,” said Marcaida.
The victory pushed the Filipino club to four points and a goal difference of five, enough to top Group H. Kaya is followed by Indonesia’s PSM Makassar, who after their 7-3 victory against Lao Toyota, are behind only on goal difference. Laos’ champions and Home United round out the group. Kaya next travel to Indonesia to face PSM on April 2.
