Kaya-Iloilo settles for draw with Tampines, remains on top of AFC Cup Group H

It may not have been the best result nor the prettiest performance, but a point is better than nothing at all.

In their second assignment in the group stage of the 2020 AFC Cup, Kaya Football Club-Iloilo and Singaporean club Tampines Rovers fought out a 0-0 result, Wednesday evening, at the historic Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

The outcome allows Kaya to maintain its lead at the perch of Group H with 4 points. Superior goal difference allows them to go higher than the S.League side, which has the same number of points.

“Actually in the first half, we played different football. We played a really good game in the first half but… We’re just unlucky we didn’t score a goal in the first half, but we had a lot of chances,” said Kaya mentor Oliver Colina. “At least we still had a draw… For us, it’s good also.”

Both sides managed to repel each other’s attacks, but they still found ways to create opportunities to strike. Tampines striker Jordan Webb almost gave his side an early lead; meanwhile, Kaya duo Simone Rota and Jayson Panhay saw their attempts fail to hit the target.

Come the second half, Kaya goalkeeper Louie Casas proved his worth to his team. He made a fine stop to deny forward Boris Kopitovic the late goal that could have won Tampines the game in the end.

“We stuck to our game plan. We trained hard, especially (since) they are very good in possession,” explained Casas. “We stopped their midfield and their wingers, and good job also to our coaches because they studied the Tampines team well.”

Kaya’s next assignment is away against Indonesia’s PSM Makassar. That match takes place on March 10, 2020, 4:30 PM at the Gelora Bung Karno Madya Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Kaya XI: Omura, Soriano, Bedic ©, Angeles, Panhay, Casambre, Mitchell, Daizo, Rota, Casas (GK), Taku.

Tampines Rovers XI: Adli, Madhu, Yasir ©, Kyoga, Kopitovic, Jordan, Shah, Irwan, Syahrul, Zehrudin, Syazwan (GK).