Carmona, Cavite — The long-awaited rematch between Kaya FC-Iloilo and United City FC ended in a draw, with Daizo Horikoshi and Mike Ott scoring offsetting goals for a final scoreline of 1-1.

After finding themselves trailing midway through the first period, the boys rallied in the second—coming away with the equalizer and ample chances to take the lead. Though they’ll be splitting points this time around, Kaya put up a quality effort that they can continue to build on moving forward.

Coach Yu Hoshide made some notable tactical adjustments in preparation for this match. Horikoshi lined up on the left wing, opposite from his usual station on the right. As did Simone Rota after Mar Diano slotted into the right of Iloilo’s back three. With Jesse Curran and Oskari Kekkonen away on Azkals duty, Jhan Melliza received the starting nod and partnered up with Jovin Bedic behind Robert Lopez Mendy.

Kaya controlled the match’s early stages, thriving in the frantic tempo and repeatedly getting into the final third. The team attacked with short, quick passes through the midfield and touchline before picking out lobs into open space—often to Daizo up the left side.

Lopez Mendy both received and created several good chances in the first twenty minutes: including a header off a corner, a quick counter with Jhan which led to a Fitch Arboleda shot, and vertical one-two with Jovin which had him bearing down on goal for a touch that slid just wide of the post and into the side netting.

The pace eventually settled down and possession began to even out between the two sides. Both teams patiently went back and forth, becoming more deliberate in their attempts to outmaneuver the opposing defense in any way they can. In the 35^th minute however, one costly mistake would result in UCFC drawing first blood.

A fateful clearance from Zach Banzon was picked up at the edge of the box, where it was layed off to UCFC Captain Mike Ott for the turn and finish. This marks the first time Kaya has conceded a goal in Copa competition since the 2019 Final, back when United City were known as Ceres Negros. Lead secured, they decided to switch their approach to sitting deeper and prioritizing counters.

Nevertheless, the game was far from over. Daizo responded nearly ten minutes later in the 44^th, coming alive in his deployment on the left flank. The Japanese speedster made a blistering run in behind the defense, and his strike from just outside the penalty area slid past former Kaya goalkeeper Matt Silva and cleanly in the bottom right corner. The play was unfortunately called back for offside, but Horikoshi had clearly made a breakthrough there.

In the 50^th minute, Ivan Ouano would attempt UCFC’s one and only shot of the second half. The forward received an excellent cross inside the box with only the keeper to beat, but Banzon held his ground and collected the ball with ease. Seemingly galvanized by the situation, the boys began creating chances galore from that point on.

After Diano won the ball back from a United City’s counterattack, Ryo Fujii began a counter of his own with a high-arching long ball to Daizo in the 56^th. Taking it himself and turning inside to his stronger foot, the Kanagawa Rocket shook off his defender and created just enough room to get his shot off. Like Déjà vu, the ball skipped past the outstretched Silva and into the bottom right corner once more to even up the score at one apiece.

The match became back and forth once more in the search of the game-winning goal, and Iloilo continued to pour on the pressure one chance at a time. Robert had the goal dead to rights as he received a low cross from Horikoshi in the 67^th, but his shot sailed way high over the crossbar.

In the 77^th minute, Sandro Reyes through pass to Lopez Mendy drifted towards the corner. Upon catching up to it, Robert passes it back to Sandro at the edge of the box, who lets it go to Arnel Amita waiting behind him for a powerful shot that just happened to clip a defender’s back.

Reyes had a spectacular chance in the 82^nd, where he faked going up to hit a shallow clearance first time, before trapping it expertly and switching to his left foot for a half-volley that Silva just manages to knock away.

Shortly after, Eric Giganto shed his mark with a pretty turn at the halfway line before sending it forward once more to Lopez Mendy in the 84^th minute. The striker received it with a near-perfect touch in stride, but he didn’t lift the ball high enough to go over the keeper who ended up corralling it.

At the end of it all, Kaya finished with twelve shots to UCFC’s four. The boys were in complete control of the midfield towards the end, not to mention them shoring up the defense by switching to a back four with Audie Menzi midway through the second half. The points were split this time around, but the team came oh so close to snatching them all.

Kaya used four of five available substitutions last night: Shirmar Felongco and Sandro Reyes checked in for Fitch Arboleda and Jhan Melliza in the 70^th minute, Audie Menzi replaced Ryo Fujii in the 75^th, and Eric Giganto subbed in for Jovin Bedic in the 8^3rd. The Captain’s physicality played a big factor in the success of the team’s high press, but a late tackle in the 61^st earned him a trip into the referee’s book with a yellow card.

It was a well-played match by both sides, a physical yet technical affair that went down to the wire. As a result of the draw, goal difference may come into play in a big way in the latter stages of the tournament. UCFC are currently ahead by three goals, so an uptick in scoring over the remaining four fixtures will be key to securing the top seed going into the knockout round.

Kaya FC-Iloilo will return to action in two weeks, facing Mendiola FC 1991 on April 11.