PLAYING in hostile territory, the women’s Kaya FC-Iloilo squad held Thailand’s College of Asian Scholars to a scoreless draw last Sunday night in their opening Group B Match in the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League at the BG Stadium in Pathum Thani, Thailand.
Playing in their first match in the newly formed continental club meet for women, the Kaya-Iloilo booters under former national coach Lelet Dimzon more than held their own against the Thais to pick up their first points in the group.
Midfielder Charisa Lemoran nearly gave the visitors the go-ahead goal off a penalty kick in the 30th minute from the right fringe of the penalty area, with CAS goalkeeper Yada Sengyong going full stretch to tip the ball over the crossbar.
The hosts nearly scored the first marker three minutes later when Kanyannat Chetthabutr slipped past defender Maya Alcantara to flick the ball over goalie Inna Palacios, but it was too weak and bounced once inside the goal box before hitting the crossbar, enabling Palacios to finally save it.
Dionesa Tolentin also had a fiery volley saved by Senyong in the 39th minute as the two sides wound up in a 0-0 stalemate at the break.
CAS continued to press in the second half but lacked the proper finishing while Palacios was able to foil back-to-back strikes in the 75th and 77th minutes, the first one off a right corner kick to smother a header and then on a follow-up strike.
Australian club Melbourne City nipped Iranian club Bam Kathoon 2-1 earlier to take the lead in the Group where the top two sides after the single-round series advance to the quarterfinals.
After a two-day respite, the Kaya booters face Bam Kathoon tomorrow while CAS takes on pacesetting Melbourne City.
They are likely to get some tips in their last game against the Aussies on Saturday from Filipinas coach Marc Torcaso, who may know the weaknesses of the side given his extensive experiences with the Women’s A-League Down Under.
