Bali, Indonesia — On a gloomy Indonesian evening, thousands of fans chanted in unison with flares lit as they celebrated Bali United defeating Kaya FC-Iloilo 0-1. The boys in yellow put forward their best 90 minutes of football so far this trip, but the single goal difference was just too much for Kaya to overcome tonight.
The hosts were both relentless and effective with their pressure in the early goings, keeping Iloilo confined to their own half for a large part of the period. Bali dominated possession and attacked every which way: through the middle, out wide, and over the top—but found it difficult to break past Kaya’s compact defense in open play.
Instead, they went with the set piece. On a free kick in the 25th minute, Bali’s J. Mulyana beat the coverage, rose up to meet the ball in the six-yard box and headed it across to the near post. (0-1)
Iloilo came right back on the restart and earned a free kick of their own on the other end, but Sandro Reyes’s strike in the 27th failed to garner the same result.
The ball curled straight to the goalkeeper, who fumbled it in the air and caused it to bounce off of his center-back. It was very nearly an own goal, if not for a last-second fingertip diverting it outside the far post.
Finding themselves trailing midway through the first half, Kaya’s play opened up to try and chase the game. However, unlike the Kedah match three days prior—which resulted in a 4-1 disaster—the boys were able to contain the transition and take control of the pace.
Bali United sat deeper in the second half, allowing Iloilo to keep more of the possession and attack with no holds barred. The boys played the most connected and cohesive they’ve been since coming on this trip, but were ultimately unable to find an equalizer.
Fitch Arboleda checked in at halftime for Shirmar Felongco, Arnel Amita and Jarvey Gayoso came in for Sandro Reyes and Jovin Bedic in the 65th minute, and Daizo Horikoshi subbed in for Patrick Arthur in the 77th minute. No Kaya players made their way into the referee’s book this time around.
Thus concludes Kaya FC-Iloilo’s 2022 AFC Cup campaign, and though the overall result was disappointing, the experience gained is invaluable. The club’s focus now shifts to the upcoming PFL season, where Kaya will seek to win passage back to the continental stage—back to the AFC Champions League.
