The Clouds Opened Up, But We Found the Silver Lining Anyway

By Kokoy Severino

Kaya Iloilo FC coach Colum Curtis (right) remained proud of his players after the match... 

In an intermittent downpour, Kaya-Iloilo FC left everything out on the pitch tonight, and that’s what Coach Colum Curtis is most proud of in his squad. They manhandled their opponents with aggressive and physical defense, preventing them from establishing any sort of rhythm. And we know how important rhythm is to a team with five Brazilian players, three of whom comprised the forward corps of Shandong Taishan against Kaya – Moises, Cryzan, and Pato, who incidentally scored the three goals for the visitors from northeast China. Kaya’s defensive pressure and tight marking in the middle and back thirds kept the Brazilian trio at bay for over an hour of game time. The drives that did manage to penetrate into Kaya’s box were repelled by a couple of heroic saves by goalkeeper Quincy Kameraad. It took a costly defensive error in the box for Shandong to score their first goal on a 63^rd-minute penalty.

Shandong head coach Choi Kanghee can blame the awful Rizal Memorial artificial field surface all he wants, as he expressed in the post-match press conference, but there is no question that the boys representing Iloilo, the historical hotbed of Philippine football, took the fight to the boys from northeast China. This came as a surprise to Choi, who admitted Kaya played much better than what they had seen in their scouting videos.

Ultimately, as the tight match wore on, it was that aggressive defensive pressure that proved to be Kaya’s downfall later in the game. As the defensive line tired, they became more prone to sloppy and costly errors, evidence of a fitness level below that of Shandong, who are in the midst of their Chinese Super League season and FA Cup tournament. Kaya, on the other hand, have had an easy ride in the Copa Paulino Alcantara, amassing a 35-1 goal differential in the last four matches they’ve played.  

Coach Curtis lamented the lack of tighter more competitive matches in the run-up to Kaya’s Champions League opener. This can be heard perhaps as a message to the Federation powers that be, who have the capacity to facilitate and organize international club friendlies for the three Philippine representatives currently competing in pan-Asian competitions, something we fans would definitely welcome, too. After the Copa Paulino Alcantara concludes in a couple of weeks, Kaya, as well as Stallion Laguna and Cebu FC, would be facing long gaps between matches in the Champions League for the former and the AFC Cup for the latter two.

I did feel robbed by Shandong Taishan tonight in another way. Midfielder Marouane Fellaini was absent, to the disappointment of many a spectator looking forward to watching the legendary former Manchester United center-midfielder and Belgian World Cup veteran. Understandably, Coach Choi explained that they had to leave numerous players behind in Shandong for this game, to be mindful of their rotation in the various ongoing domestic competitions.

Fellaini or no Fellaini, this was a more difficult opener for Shandong and a better start for Kaya than the 1-3 scoreline might indicate. Statistically, Kaya generated some very solid defensive play, winning 92% of their tackles and making 12 interceptions - that’s three more than Shandong’s defense managed. Indeed, Kaya played their very scrappy style quite effectively, winning many of the loose and 50-50 balls. There were very few Taishan passes that went unchallenged, and had to rely on a pair of Kaya’s tired defensive blunders to set up their goals for them. Even in the air where the northeast Chinese group had a clear height advantage, the Iloilo resolve remained undaunted; they went up and after every ball. Nothing came easy for Shandong Taishan until the waning minutes when the Visayan team had given their every last ounce.

Offensively, Kaya’s 42% ball possession belies their preferred counter-attacking style, exemplified by Jarvey Gayoso’s breakaway goal, one for the Champions League highlight reel, that pumped some life and hope into the Philippines half of the Rizal Memorial grandstand.

Coach Curtis said that what he has been happiest about since arriving in the Philippines in August is his squad’s unwavering commitment to working hard, learning and improving. If this opening match is the benchmark for improvement, then Kaya will be providing us with some of the most exciting football Rizal Memorial has hosted in the matches to come.

    Kokoy Severino is a career educator, nationally certified youth soccer coach in the United States, and an executive officer of the Football for Peace Movement in the Philippines…

Kaya-Iloilo FC results and fixtures in the AFC Champions League Group G

(all kickoff times local at venue):

September 19 – Kaya Iloilo FC 1, Shandong Taishan 3 @ Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila

October 3 – vs Incheon United @ Incheon Football Stadium, Incheon, South Korea 7:00 pm

October 25 – vs Yokohama FM @ Yokohama International Stadium, Yokohama, Japan 7:00 pm

November 7 – vs Yokohama FM @ Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila 8:00 pm

November 28 – vs Shandong Taishan @ Jinan Olympic Stadium, Jinan, China 8:00 pm

December 13 – vs Incheon United @ Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila 4:00 pm

 

Other Philippine clubs in Asian continental competition:

 

Stallion Laguna FC match schedule in the AFC Cup Group G

September 20 – vs Bali United @ Biñan Football Stadium, Biñan, Laguna 4:00 pm

October 4 – vs Central Coast Mariners @ Industree Group Stadium, Gosford, Queensland, Australia 7:00 pm

October 26 – vs Terengganu FC @ Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia 8:00 pm

November 8 – vs Terengganu FC @ Biñan Football Stadium, Biñan, Laguna 4:00 pm

November 29 – vs Bali United @ Captain 1 Wayan Dipta Stadium, Bali, Indonesia 8:00 pm

December 13 – vs Central Coast Mariners @ Biñan Football Stadium, Biñan, Laguna 4:00 pm

 

Dynamic Herb Cebu FC match schedule in the AFC Cup Group F

September 21 – vs Phnom Penh Crown @ Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila 8:00 pm

October 5 – vs Macarthur @ Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney, Australia 7:00 pm

October 26 – vs Shan United @ Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila 8:00 pm

November 9 – vs Shan United @ Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar 6:30 pm

November 30 – vs Phnom Penh Crown @ Smart RSN Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia 7:00 pm

December 14 – vs Macarthur @ Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila 8:00 pm