50jili Kaya finally scores after nipping HK

–Kaya-Iloilo FC

Kaya-Iloilo, despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half, found a way to register its first win in Group E of the AFC Champions League Two after defeating host Eastern FC, 2-1, Thursday at Mongkok Stadium in Hong Kong.

Veteran striker Robert Lopez Mendy converted the winner with a penalty in the 86th minute as the Philippines Football League titleholders finally secured the maximum three points after three defeats to open their continental campaign.

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The victory, which also avenged the heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Eastern at Rizal Memorial Stadium two weeks ago, ended an 18-match losing streak for Kaya in all Asian Football Confederation club competitions.

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That stretch spanned three years since Kaya defeated Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port, 1-0, in the playoff round of the 2021 Champions League in Thailand.

Vengeful beating

Kaya prevailed despite squandering a 1-0 lead on Daizo Horikoshi’s spot kick in the first half, losing Jovin Bedic to a straight red card and an equalizer by Eastern’s Marcus Gondra in the 70th.

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Substitute Jess Melliza was fouled during a counterattack, allowing the Senegalese-born Mendy to score the winning goal.

Dynamic Herb Cebu, meanwhile, was handed a 9-2 beating by vengeful Muangthong United in their Group H affair at Rizal Memorial.

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