KAYA FC-ILOILO missed out on the opportunity to go on solo lead in Group H of the ongoing AFC Cup after losing to PSM Makassar of Indonesia, 2-1, in their reengagement in Bacolod City on April 17 where a tough first half doomed it in.
But the team has vowed to learn from it and continue working so as to see its goal of progressing to the next round of the tournament through.
In their clash of top Group H teams at the Panaad Park and Football Stadium, Kaya saw its cause derailed significantly after going down 0-2 in the opening half.
While the team tried hard to make up for it in the second half, it was a hole that proved to be too hard to claw itself out from as it slumped to the defeat.
PSM midfielder Rizky Pellu opened the scoring for his team after finding the net in the 21st minute off a nifty cross from teammate Wiljan Pluim.
Three minutes later, the visiting side made it 2-0 with forward Eero Markkanen on the scoring end.
In the second half, Kaya was presented a great advantage after PSM defender Abdul Rahman was given his second yellow card for the game and was sent off.
The home team looked to capitalized on it only to find an opponent who did a good job in adjusting to it.
Kaya put pressure on PSM but the latter’s defense held tough against it.
Jovin Bedic connected on a penalty in the 91st minute to narrow the gap, 2-1, but Kaya would not move past that as time expired.
In his assessment of the match after, Kaya coach Noel Marcaida highlighted their shortcomings in the first half as greatly stymieing their push in the game.
“The real talking point was the span between the 20th and 30th minute where I think we switched off. We gave them the space and we weren’t compact enough,” said Mr. Marcaida.
“We dominated and controlled the second half, but we had trouble breaking their defensive line. That was our big problem. All throughout the second half we failed to identify the space in between. It took us so long to get that first goal,” he added.
The coach went on to say that they hope to recalibrate and do better in their coming games.
With the loss, Kaya (1-2-1) slid all the way to third place in the grouping with five points, behind PSM (2-2-0) with eight points and Home United FC (2-1-1) of Singapore with seven.
Kaya next plays on April 30 against Lao Toyota FC (0-1-3) of Laos still at Panaad while PSM faces off with Home United also on the same date in Bogor. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
