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Kaya FC–Iloilo Fire Five Past ASEAN Champions in First AFC Cup Home Match

Kaya FC–Iloilo (Philippines) 5-0 Home United FC (Singapore)
March 13, 2019
Panaad Stadium

March 13, 2019; Bacolod, Philippines – Kaya FC–Iloilo made sure their first home match in the 2019 AFC Cup was one to remember. Braces from Darryl Roberts and Alfred Osei, and a goal from Jovin Bedic fired the hosts to a five-goal victory over the reigning ASEAN champions from Singapore, Home United.

Kaya got off to the perfect start, with Darryl Roberts heading in from close range in just the second minute of the match.

“This whole week we’ve been working hard in training, especially on set pieces,” said Roberts, who was named Man of the Match. “We just executed what was taught on the training pitch and for the first one it worked out well.”

The visitors then threatened to level the score almost immediately, but were denied by a goal-line clearance.

“We got an early wake up call. Masanari Omura was able to stop an opportunity from Home United. That woke us up. We then accepted the challenge, created opportunities, and we scored goals,” said Noel Marcaida after the match.

The second goal came just after the half hour mark. Roberts made the assist, as Jovin Bedic cut inside his man and blasted a shot past the keeper to double the advantage. Darryl made it three not long after, latching on to Connor Tacagni’s low cross for a close range finish. Iloilo entered the break flying with confidence, and they kept their foot on the gas in the second, scoring almost instantly after the restart.

From a free kick, Roberts broke free from his man and cut the ball back for Jordan Mintah. The Ghanaian forward’s shot was blocked, but the ball fell kindly for Alfred Osei to place in the top corner from close range. Osei then doubled his tally in the 56th minute. Mintah’s cross was headed away, but only as far as Alfred, who clinically volleyed the ball for Iloilo’s fifth of the match.

Roberts, Mintah, and substitute Yannick Tuason all came close to adding a sixth as Kaya kept ramping up the pressure, but United were spared any additional damage.

“This victory really means a lot to us. Not only is it a gift for our boss, Santi Araneta, who celebrated his birthday two days ago, and for Mike Casas who celebrated yesterday, it’s for one of our players whose mom is in a critical situation,” said Marcaida.

The victory pushed the Filipino club to four points and a goal difference of five, enough to top Group H. Kaya is followed by Indonesia’s PSM Makassar, who after their 7-3 victory against Lao Toyota, are behind only on goal difference. Laos’ champions and Home United round out the group. Kaya next travel to Indonesia to face PSM on April 2.

http://www.kayafc.com/match/10727-kaya-fc%E2%80%93iloilo-v-home-united/

Kaya FC–Iloilo Hosts ASEAN Champions in Panaad

Kaya FC–Iloilo are set to play their first home match of the 2019 AFC Cup on Wednesday, as they host reigning ASEAN zone champions, Home United at 3pm, at the Panaad Stadium.

“The last time Home United were here they beat Ceres [Negros] for the ASEAN championship, so we’re expecting a tough game tomorrow. But we came here prepared for what’s necessary in tomorrow’s game. I’m expecting my players to step up, especially those from Bacolod,” said Kaya head coach Noel Marcaida.

With Panaad Stadium the only AFC approved venue in the Philippines, Iloilo will play in nearby Bacolod, in the backyard of their club rivals from Negros.

“We really wanted to play in front of the Ilonggos in the Iloilo Sports Complex, but then again, we’re not just representing the club, we’re representing Philippine football in general. So we’re calling on not just the Ilonggos but also the football fanatics in Bacolod to support us and show them what Philippine football is about not just on the field, but off it as well,” said Marcaida.

Wednesday’s match will be particularly special for five Kaya players hailing from the region: Arnie Pasinabo, Jayson Panhay, Janrick Soriano, Jalsor Soriano, and Camelo Tacusalme.

“We are really excited for tomorrow’s game. It’s really exciting to be able to play in front of family and close friends,” said Kaya defender Tacusalme. “Our eagerness to win in front of them, and our willingness to win will be the key.”

Currently all four teams in Group H are tied with one point each, making victory all the more important against Home United.

“This is our second game (in Group H) but it seems like we’re just starting in our group, so it’s very important to get maximum points,” said Marcaida. “The camaraderie of the team is our strength. The brotherhood of the Kaya players really give us [good] morale heading into every game.”

http://www.kayafc.com/news/kaya-fc-iloilo-hosts-asean-champions-in-panaad/

AFC Cup: Maranon hattrick propels Ceres to 2nd win

By: Cedelf P. Tupas 

THU DAU MOT – Spanish striker Bienvenido Maranon bagged a hattrick as Philippine champion Ceres Negros subdued Vietnamese side Becamex Binh Duong, 3-1, to regain top spot in Group G of the AFC Cup.

Maranon struck in the first half, before firing two quickfire goals late in the second half as the Busmen showed grit and character to survive a huge scare for their second straight victory at Gu Dau Stadium.

Playing on enemy ground, the Busmen also needed a stellar performance from goalkeeper Roland Muller, who produced a string of impressive saves to keep the Philippine champions ahead in the second half.

The win increases Ceres’ tally to six points from two matches, ahead of Persija Jakarta of Indonesia, which has four points after a similar 3-1 win over Shan United of Myanmar early Tuesday.

Only the top team in the group is guaranteed to make the knockout phase of Asia’s second-tier club football competition.

The Busmen got the better chances early on with OJ Porteria, fresh off a brace against Shan United two weeks ago, finding Maranon unmarked in the area. The Spanish striker, however, could only head the ball straight at Bui Tan Truong.

Moments later, Stephan Schrock’s cross field ball was collected by Porteria, but Truong was alert to the danger once again.

Ceres took the lead in bizarre fashion in the 26th minute. With Ceres still protesting an offside call, Truong dropped the ball to the ground only for Maranon to nick it past him and fire into an empty net.

The home side came alive late in the first half with To Van Vu nearly equalising in the 41st minute when he lashed a shot wide from the edge of the area.

Truong had one more save to make against the ever dangerous Maranon, who couldn’t find the back of the net from a tight angle.

Showing some urgency, Becamex piled up the pressure in the second half but Maranon once again nearly had his way against the Vietnamese defense when he shot straight at Truong in the 53rd minute

Muller was called into action in the 65th minute, denying Brazilian striker Wander Luiz from close range. Nguyen Anh Duc also tested Muller from distance in the 69th minute.

Becamex got its equalizer four minutes later when Luiz produced an acrobatic finish from close range after the Busmen failed to clear their lines.

Ceres’ response however proved impressive a minute later as Schrock’s cross was flicked by substitute Maher Karic to the path of Maranon, who bundled the ball home from close range.

The Spanish striker made it 3-1 in the 78th minute, getting on the end of Porteria’s deflected cutback to secure maximum points for Ceres.

https://sports.inquirer.net/341662/afc-cup-maranon-hattrick-propels-ceres-to-2nd-win?utm_expid=.XqNwTug2W6nwDVUSgFJXed.1

VIDAKOVIC: ITS GONNA BE A HARD GAME FOR US

Ceres-Negros FC Coach Risto Vidakokovic knows the tough challenge his team is facing on match day two of the AFC Cup.

An away game against Vietnamese Cup winners Becamex FC will be the true test in the group that was deemed the toughest in the ASEAN zone.

The Serbian-Spanish Coach was direct in the match’s press conference when he talked about the current situation between them in the home side.

“They are playing at home. They are a very strong team,” said Vidakovic. “I saw them play. They played already three games in the league and they’re better prepared than us.”

The Coach hinted on his squads disadvantage as the domestic league has yet to commence in the Philippines.

“For us it will be hard to play the same intensity as them as we only played one game (in the AFC Cup) and that was two weeks ago. But we’ll do our best tomorrow,” he added.

Though lacking in games, the Ceres mentor was confident enough that they are ready to face the Cup winners.

“We have a game plan and we know how they play. Obviously its gonna be a hard game for us but we know what to do,” said Vidakovic.

The match is set to kickoff at 7PM Philippine time and will be shown live via 5 PLUS and pay TV cable channel Fox Sports 2.

Viewers will also be able to watch the matches live in the live stream platforms of the two channels.

http://ceresfootball.com/vidakovic-its-gonna-be-a-hard-game-for-us/

Azkals begin quest for World Cup berth in Bangkok

By: Cedelf P. Tupas - Reporter

Raring to continue its improvement, the Philippines will expand its talent pool as it prepares for the next cycle of World Cup qualifying beginning in September.

After losing all three matches against higher-ranked opponents in their first AFC Asian Cup appearance in January in the United Arab Emirates, the Azkals are now setting their sights on making a strong push for qualification to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Azkals manager Dan Palami said the road to Qatar begins with a weeklong training camp in Bangkok starting March 18.

Palami said there will be 42 players in the pool with the majority of them newcomers to the Azkals pool.

“The camp gives us an opportunity to really take a closer look at new players who can represent not just the senior team, but also the Under-22 team for the Southeast Asian Games,” said Palami.

Read more: https://sports.inquirer.net/340942/azkals-begin-quest-for-world-cup-berth-in-bangkok#ixzz5hYnwDbOD

Ililo. Laguna battle to 1-1 draw in preseason rematch

By Ivan Saldajeno

BIÑAN—Almost a week after battling to a 1-1 stalemate in its season debut, Kaya Iloilo once again found itself settling for another 1-1 draw.

Stallion Laguna scored on a second half goal to deny Iloilo the road win in a rematch of their preseason battle at the Biñan Football Stadium on Tuesday.

Similar to its AFC Cup clash against Lao Toyota in Vientiane, Iloilo struck first when Jayson Panhay scored on a 27th minute goal.

But Andoni Seuscum nailed the equalizer in the 62nd minute to eventually force the draw.

In a way, Laguna got back at Ilolio after getting drubbed, 1-3, last month at the said venue.

https://www.dugout.ph/iloilo-laguna-battle-to-1-1-draw

Philippines 0-7 China PR

Mandalay: China PR and Bangladesh sealed their places in the Finals after defeating Philippines and Myanmar respectively in the AFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2019 Qualifiers Round 2 Group B ties on Friday.

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It was the second win for both teams and with Myanmar and Philippines without a point to show after two matches, China PR and Bangladesh are through and will meet on Sunday to decide the group winners.

Philippines 0-7 China PR

Zhang Hongyan’s four goals spurred China PR to a resounding 7-0 win over the Philippines at the Mandalar Thiri Stadium to give China PR their second straight victory.

China PR started with purpose and it only took them 11 minutes to find the back of the net courtesy of an own goal by Philippines’ Mikaela Villacin.

 The young Steel Roses, who cruised to a 5-0 win over Myanmar in their opener on Wednesday, added their second goal through Zou Mengyao in the 23rd minute.

China PR then turned on the style as Zhang scored three more goals in the 26th, 33rd and 44th minutes to give the East Asians a healthy 5-0 lead at half-time.

The Philippines, who lost 10-0 to Bangladesh on Wednesday, tried their best to contain their opponents but their efforts were in vain as Zhang added her fourth in the 77th minute while Fu Congcong completed the win a minute later.

http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-u-16-womens-championship/latest/news/afc-u16-women-qualifiers-group-b-matchday-two