KAYA FC-Iloilo hopes that its recent domestic success will finally translate into a victory in the Asian region as it ends its 2023-24 AFC Champions League campaign on Wednesday.
Kaya FC faces Incheon United at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Wednesday on the heels of winning their third Copa Paulino Alcantara over the weekend.
Kaya nipped Davao Aguilas on penalties, 4-3, after a 1-1 tie in the final at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Justin Baas knocked in the title-winning penalty for Kaya to add to its 2018 and 2021 editions.
Kaya FC-Iloilo got the tying goal from Arnel Amita in the 64th minute, after Yannick Tuason scored the first for Davao Aguilas in the 45th.
The club also won its first league crown in the Philippines Football League last May.
“It was a great final for the fans, not so much for us,” said Kaya FC-Iloilo coach Colum Curtis. “We feel that we could have done enough in the 90 minutes. But we didn’t have much time to celebrate. We were shooting the next morning. We have a huge task ahead tomorrow.”
Kaya is still in search of that elusive point after suffering five defeats including a 4-0 defeat against Incheon United last October 3. The Iloilo squad will try to play the spoilers’ role with Incheon still in the hunt for the next round along with Yokohama Marinos.
“I think we are in a very unique position, probably one of the only teams in the world that we are probably the heavy favorites domestically, but the biggest outsiders when in the Champions League,” said Curtis.
“Credit to the players, they adopt well. We have to be more pragmatic in the Champions League and try to stay in the game,” said Curtis.
“We want to finish the season strong,” said Kaya FC-Iloilo player Justin Baas.
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