CPA 2022: United City FC Match Preview 2022 Copa Paulino Alcantara — Game Overview, Rekindled Rivalry, and Quotes from Coach Yu Hoshide

There’s nothing in sports quite like when rivals go head-to-head, and tomorrow’s fixture is but the latest installment of the most heated rivalry in professional Philippine football. Reigning Copa champions Kaya FC-Iloilo will be taking on the current PFL title-holders United City FC in what’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting contests of the year.

This marks Kaya’s first meeting with the Clark-based club since the last game of the PFL Bubble in late 2020. While the match had no bearing on the title race since both teams were locked into their one-two finish in the standings, Iloilo’s campaign ended on a high note by breaking UCFC’s lengthy domestic hot streak with a 2-1 victory.

Now the stage is set for the two sides to face each other once again in the second leg of the Copa Paulino Alcantara, both coming off wins versus Maharlika Manila FC.

Kaya had a solid outing in the opening day match, taking home all three points thanks to Daizo Horikoshi’s early second-half goal to secure the 1-0 advantage. However, some better finishing could’ve made the final score look a lot better considering the twenty-eight shots the guys created on the night. In a recent statement, Coach Yu Hoshide alluded to the fact that this team’s capable of much more, and that the best is yet to come for his squad.

“Most importantly, we got the points and a clean sheet in the opening game versus Maharlika, but honestly I expected much better quality from boys,” he stated. “Maharlika are a really organized and disciplined team, and we just have to learn from that.”

On the other hand, United City had the more impressive showing—winning 4-0 against the same Manila side last Thursday. Despite the departures of some of their biggest names, their Copa opener all but proved they’re still as dangerous as ever.

UCFC have completely revamped their roster: adding accomplished foreigners like CB JJ Robertson and MF Amirbek Juraboev; bringing in PFL vets like MF Ricki Sendra and FW Paolo Salenga; and even signing former Kaya players like GK Matt Silva, DF Dean Ebarle, and most notably (and very, very recently) MF Kenshiro Daniels.

They’re the challengers this time around, and they’ll be coming at the Copa crown with everything they’ve got. Seeing such a strong performance right out the gates would certainly faze most teams, but Coach just sees it as extra motivation for the boys to step up to the task.

“Of course UCFC is a good team, but we’re switched on again after seeing their performance versus Maharlika. It’s really more of a good sign for us,” Hoshide noted.

As for the team availability side of things, both clubs will be missing key players when the festivities kick off tomorrow. Kaya midfielders Jesse Curran and Oskari Kekkonen along with UCFC frontman Mark Hartmann are currently with the Azkals for the FAS Tri-Nations Series in Singapore, and Clark’s starting goalkeeper Anthony Pinthus is suspended a game after receiving a red card in their last match.

Will United City get their payback for the season-ending loss two years ago, or will Kaya hold off the title wave and cement their place on top? Ever since the schedule was released, this fixture’s been circled on the calendar as one of the most anticipated games of the season. For Coach Hoshi however, it’s just business as usual.

“We have been focused on the tactical side these past two weeks, so hopefully boys can show what we did in training,” he stated. “Since last year, we’ve never lost or conceded goals in the Copa, so I’ll be expecting that again.”

Monday’s CPA double-header at the PFF National Football Center will be open to spectators, so we’re calling all Kaya fans in the area to come on down and support the boys! Kickoff’s at 7:15 PM, and you can also catch the Livestream at home on the PFL’s Facebook and YouTube pages!