MANILA – Kaya Futbol Club-Iloilo concluded their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League campaign without a win after bowing to Incheon United, 3-1, on Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila.
The Iloilo City-based football club, who earned the right to represent the country after ruling the Philippines Football League, finished last in Group G standings after dropping all of their six matches.
Against the visiting Incheon United, Kaya-Iloilo found themselves trailing after 12 minutes as Seung-Ho Park slotted one from close range against the defense of Quincy Kamerrad.
The South Korean-based football club doubled their advantage after 13 minutes as Woo-Jin Choi blow past the Kaya-Iloilo defenders to connect past Kamerrad’s outstretched arms.
Kaya-Iloilo, however, pulled one back at the onset of the second half as veteran Simone Rota knocked down a header past the Incheon United goalie’s defense in the 53rd minute.
The Ilonggo booters, the newly-crowned Copa Paulino Alcantara champions, had several opportunities to force a deadlock but they were not able to penetrate the defense of Incheon.
Kaya-Iloilo, however, committed a handball violation late in the game, which led to a penalty kick by Kim Do-Hyuk during the 90+4 minute to cap the win for the Incheon side.
Meanwhile, Stallion Laguna Football Club ended their 2023-2024 AFC Cup campaign with a 0-3 defeat to the visiting Central Coast Mariners at the Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna.
Marco Tulio scored a brace for the Australian League Men’s side in the 23rd and 79th minutes while Christian Theoharous put the ball at the back of the net in the 63rd minute.
Stallion-Laguna finished last in Group G with one point after one draw and five defeats while Central Coast advanced to the zonal semi-finals after topping their group with 13 points on the back of four wins, one draw, and one defeat./PN
