Shandong, China — It was a tale of two halves. The first period saw Kaya FC-Iloilo lead a fiery charge to snag the opening goal of a close contest on the road. The second period saw Shandong Taishan FC snuff that flame out with a scoring avalanche, breaking the game open entirely. 

Jarvey Gayoso’s opener in the 21st was a thing of beauty, a prime example of Filipino fighting spirit on the Asian stage. The striker dropped back on defense, dispossessed the ball in the defensive third, left his man in the dust, and carried it up the pitch leading the counterattack. 

After picking out the run of Jhan Melliza whose shot was subsequently blocked, Jarvey was first to the second chance ball—going airborne and steering it goalward, bouncing off the keeper’s leg and into the back of the net. (0-1)

Iloilo’s lead was short-lived, however. After working their way down the right flank in the 26th minute, the ball found its way to Moises, the Shandong captain crashing the box for a bottom corner finish. (1-1) 

The boys in black did well to keep the game tight through the rest of the half, but the second half was where things took a turn for the worse for the visiting side. 

In the 50th minute, a clearance error from the backline set up a curling effort from Shandong’s Cryzan—who seized the lead for the hosts from beyond the box. (2-1)

In the 56th minute, Moises secured his brace on a well-executed set piece. The Brazilian set up at the near post for an inswinging corner kick, where he towered over everyone to nod it in. (3-1)

In the 61st minute, on a recycled ball following a cleared corner, defender Song Long snuck his way in behind the defense to head in Shandong’s fourth. (4-1)

In the 68th minute, Cryzan added another to his tally after slicing through the Kaya defense—scoring their fifth on a one-two into the box before picking out the bottom corner. (5-1)

The Brazilian striker would complete his hat trick in the 89th minute. Flying towards the far post to meet a high curling cross, there was no stopping Shandong’s #9 as he chested the ball past the line for number six. (6-1) 

Kaya FC-Iloilo’s final 2023 AFC Champions League match is a home fixture against K League side Incheon United FC, but prior to that is the Copa Paulino Alcantara Final against Davao Agulilas-UMak on December 9. 

Starting Lineup: 

LF: Horikoshi, ST: Gaysos, RF: Melliza

CM: Baas, CM: Sendra

LB: Casambre, CB: Rota, CB: Menzi©, CB: Saito, RWB: Diano

GK: Kammeraad

Subs: Balobo, Tacusalme, Swainston, Bedic, Angeles, Amita, Arboleda

Coach Colum Curtis made four personnel changes in in this match: 

• Arnel Amita and Fitch Arboleda checked in for Jarvey Gayoso and Marco Casambre in the 69th minute. 
• Marwin Angeles replaced Ricki Sendra in the 76th minute. 
• Lastly, Mark Swainston came in for Justin Baas in the 90th minute.