Kaya-Iloilo endured a heart-wrenching 2-1 loss to Yokohama F. Marinos in the AFC Champions League, coming tantalizingly close to their first-ever point in the competition. The dramatic clash unfolded at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, leaving Kaya with a bitter taste of defeat despite their spirited effort against the reigning champions of Japan’s J1 League.

In a captivating contest, Kaya, the reigning Philippines Football League champions and finalists of the Copa Paulino Alcantara, experienced their fourth consecutive loss in Group G of the AFC Champions League. The defeat dashed their hopes of advancing in the competition.

Yokohama’s Yuhi Murakami opened the scoring for the visitors, but Kaya responded with Daizo Horikoshi’s equalizer, showcasing the spirit and determination of the Philippine side. Horikoshi, a Japanese winger hailing from Kanagawa, netted a crucial goal against his hometown club, leveling the score with a splendid counterattack.

Unfortunately for Kaya, their battle became even more challenging when Robert Lopez-Mendy received a red card in the 82nd minute, leaving them with a numerical disadvantage. Capitalizing on this opportunity, Yokohama’s Yan Mattheus delivered a heart-wrenching winner just three minutes before stoppage time.

The Japanese side’s victory placed them on par with group leaders Taishan Shandong of China, with both teams accumulating nine points. While Kaya has been officially eliminated from the possibility of progressing beyond the group stage, they still have two matches left in their Champions League campaign.

On November 28, they will travel to Jinan, China, to face Shandong. This will be followed by a home game against South Korea’s Incheon United on December 12. Despite the elimination, Kaya aims to finish their campaign on a high note and gain valuable experience in the prestigious competition.

In the midst of Kaya’s Champions League journey, Stallion-Laguna is preparing for a rematch with Malaysia’s Terengganu. This time, they will have the home advantage, hosting the AFC Cup match at the Binan Football Stadium.

Stallion is eager to secure their first AFC Cup victory after settling for a 2-2 draw against the Malaysian Super League side in their previous encounter, where they had a two-goal lead. As they step onto their home turf, Stallion is determined to claim a crucial win and make their mark in the competition.