Kaya-Iloilo’s hopes in the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two took a heavy blow after a second-half collapse led to a 1-4 defeat against Australia’s Sydney FC on Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The home side got off to a promising start, with Daizo Horikoshi giving Kaya an early lead just three minutes into the match. However, they struggled to maintain momentum.
Sydney quickly responded, leveling the score in the 26th minute when Joe Lolley capitalized on a defensive error.
From that point, the five-time Australian champions took control of the game.
Polish striker Patryk Klimala delivered the knockout punch, scoring twice in quick succession, first in the 59th minute and again in the 63rd, putting the game out of reach for Kaya.
Sydney’s Nathan Amanatidis completed the rout with a stoppage-time goal in the 90+3 minute, sealing a comprehensive victory for the visitors.
Kaya coach Yu Hoshide lamented his team’s lack of fitness, noting that fatigue played a crucial role in the second-half collapse.
“It’s not an excuse, but the players were really, really tired by halftime,” Hoshide said. “That can’t happen. Maybe our fitness level is still behind the opponent’s, and that’s why this happened.”
The loss leaves Kaya at the bottom of Group E with 0 points and a goal difference of minus-6, while Sydney tops the group with 6 points and a plus-8 GD.
One bright spot for Kaya was the second-half debut of young players Sherwin Basindanan and Martini Rey, both former Far Eastern University standouts.
Basindanan replaced Shuto Komaki in the 64th minute, while Rey came on for Eric Esso in the 81st.
Despite the defeat, Hoshide praised their performances.
“The young boys, with their fresh legs, did really well,” he said. “For most of them, it was their first time playing in an international match, so I really appreciate their effort.”
Both teams are set to return to action on October 24, with Sydney traveling to Japan to face Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and Kaya hosting Hong Kong’s Eastern at the Rizal Memorial.
Meanwhile, Dynamic Herb Cebu also endured a tough night, narrowly losing 1-0 to Malaysia’s Selangor FC at the MBPJ Stadium in Petaling Jaya.
Venezuelan midfielder Yohandry Orozco scored the match’s only goal in the 10th minute, handing Cebu its second straight loss in the competition.
Selangor climbed to second in Group H with 4 points, while Cebu remains at the bottom with 0 points and a minus-7 GD.
