Kaya FC-Iloilo falls to Thai champions in AFC Champions League debut

Kaya FC-Iloilo faced a rude welcome in their first-ever game in the AFC Champion League Group Stage as they fell to Thai League 1 champions and tournament hosts BG Pathum United, 4-1, on Saturday in Bangkok, Thailand.

Kaya FC, who qualified for this stage after their 1-0 victory over the Shanghai Roar in the play-off last Wednesday, just could not keep up with their opponents in this one.

FT | ???????? BG Pathum United 4-1 Kaya FC-Iloilo ????????

? A brace for Diogo and Teerasil was enough for the hosts, but 10-men Kaya did claim a bit of history with Marwin Angeles scoring the first ever #ACL goal for a Filipino side.#ACL2021 | #BGPvKAY pic.twitter.com/Ll7FJDWiE7

— #ACL2021 (@TheAFCCL) June 26, 2021

Teerasil Dangda drew first blood with a goal in the 23rd minute and Brazilian striker Diogo Luis Santo added a second goal to double up in the 35th minute.

Their fortunes turned even worse in the second half when Kaya went down to 10 men after Simone Rota was shown a red card, and Diogo scored on the free kick to make it 3-0 at the 50th minute.

Not 10 minutes later, Teerasil earned himself a second goal as well, heading in the ball off a Diogo cross to make it 4-0.

Kaya continued to fight, though, and it paid off in the 81st minute as Marwin Angeles scored the team’s first goal in the prestigious club tournament and the first for any Filipino team on this level.

???? Marwin Angeles writing his name in the history books scoring the first-ever #ACL goal for a Filipino team!#ACL2021 | #BGPvKAY pic.twitter.com/wzeXN7DgGe

— #ACL2021 (@TheAFCCL) June 26, 2021

Kaya, the PFL’s runner-up squad, will have a chance to bounce back when they return to the pitch on Tuesday, June 29, for their second game. Kaya will face Vietnam’s Viettel Football Club.

—JMB, GMA News