MANILA – Filipino football club Kaya Iloilo booked a place in the AFC Champions League group stages after beating Shanghai Port, 1-0, in the Group F qualifier at the Pathum Thani Stadium in Bangkok late Wednesday night.
Audie Menzi eventually won it for Kaya Iloilo after converting a header off a corner kick in the 16th minute for the lone tally on the scoreboard.
Despite not fielding in its key players from last season and brought in mainly its second team, Shanghai Port still put up a gallant stand, even forcing Kaya Iloilo goalie Mike Casas to exert much effort.
Shanghai first threatened just before halftime, but Casas put up a great save to keep the Chinese club at bay entering the intermission.
In the 86th minute, however, Shanghai got the closest to a goal after a corner kick scramble led to a powerful shot but Casas stopped the play anew.
Shanghai had one last try off the corner just before the final whistle, but Kaya Iloilo's backline held forth.
Kaya Iloilo became the second Philippines Football League (PFL) club to enter the ACL group stages, joining outright qualifier United Clark, the reigning PFL champ.
In what is looming to be the "group of death" in the East Zone, Kaya Iloilo will join Group F, consisting of Thai League 1 champion BG Pathum United, the host of the Group F bubble; Vietnamese league top placer Viettel, and defending ACL champion Ulsan Hyundai. (PNA)
