Kaya booters suffer first loss in AFC

MANILA, Philippines — Kaya FC Iloilo suffered a stinging 1-2 setback to Indonesia’s PSM Makassar in a heated AFC Cup group encounter to fall out of top spot on a scorching Wednesday at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

Early goals conceded to Rickey Pelle and Eero Markkanen proved costly for the Iloilo booters, who mounted a late uprising but fell short against the Indon side that played the last 27 minutes one man down with defender Abdul Rahman tossed out for his second yellow card.

Kaya itself was reduced to 10 as Jalsor Soriano got a straight red for kicking Marc Klok in a tense moment at the 88th minute.

Joven Bedic then converted his penalty kick at the first minute of stoppage time to pull Kaya one back but the Pinoy booters ran out of time for the equalizer and absorbed their first loss of the campaign.

Kaya thus got stuck at five points, allowing Makassar to grab pole position in Group H at eight markers.

Kaya will try to get back on track on April 30 against Laotian outfit Lao Toyota also at Panaad.

Pelle put the visitors on the board 20 minutes into the match as he headed in a cross from Wiljan Pluim then Markkanen doubled it four minutes later after shrugging off Soriano to slot it home.              

Kaya’s Darryl Roberts, Bedic, Arnel Amita and Jordan Mintah got off shots but goalkeeper Riviki Mokodompit and the rest of the defense were up to the task and foiled them.