By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Kaya FC-Iloilo did what they could with their nine-man roster inside the pitch but it wasn’t enough in the end game to hold off Viettel FC, 1-0, in their last match of the 2021 AFC Champions League group stage tournament.
Viettel was all over Kaya in the first 45 minutes of the match as they came in swarming with their quick offensive sets.
However, the Iloilo backline defense showed some toughness and resiliency to withstand the Viettel offensive barrage and prevented any first-half goal.
Kaya FC’s Eric Giganto had the chance to draw first blood but his shot in the goal post was way off the mark.
Heading into the second half, a series of unfortunate events began to pile up for Iloilo after Giganto went down with an injury and had to be replaced by Ilonggo Jovin Bedic.
Moments after, Simone Rota and Masanari Omura had to absorb respective red cards after they were called for last man fouls.
Things then began to go Viettel’s way after converting a heartbreaking goal in the 57th minute which became the lone goal of the match.
Kaya’s loss in their last game of six landed them the last place in Group F with 0 points while their co-Filipino representatives United City FC were the third placers in Group I.
