Rejuvenated Kaya FC side pushes ACL Champs to the limits

After three lackluster performances in the opening salvo of their AFC Champions League campaign, Kaya FC-Iloilo looked like a brand new side who went out of the gates and broke loose of their shackles to make it a difficult match for Ulsan Hyundai to play in.

Though they would lose against the defending AFC CL champions, Kaya FC-Iloilo made sure that the current group F leaders will have to fight for it. A brace from Bit-garam Yoon was enough for Ulsan Hyundai to solidify their hold on the top spot and extending their ACL winning streak to 13.

The defending champs were lucky enough in the first half as Yoon opened the scoring in a mind-boggling fashion. A strike from Will Hinterseer in the 27th minute got deflected by a fallen Yoon who's nursing his shoulder but the latter was then given the goal.

Shortly after scoring against the opposition, Ulsan was reduced to ten men after Min-Jun Kim got booked for a nasty foul. A high ball was floating above the box after a bounce. Kim wanted to try a clever shot as the ball was about to fall behind him. But Marco Casambre, a Kaya defender, had other ideas, putting himself in between Kim and the ball head first. The resulting run had Kim's boot, studs up, against Casambre's head, taking him down to the ground.

The referee had no doubts about the tussle and immediately flashed red against Kim. Casambre had to be treated on the sideline for his head wounds, but returned to the game shortly after getting patched up by the medical staff.

It was after this incident that the underdogs have garnered a renewed vigor, having a good spell of possession play for the last ten minutes of the half. Kaya started playing patient, passing football as the break came close. They were passing the ball about and bossed the pace as they looked for openings. They kept most of the possession within Ulsan's half with a high defense and good tackling.

The half ended at 1-0 to the defending champions, who at the restart wanted to show a bit more confidence in their own half. It didn't help, though, as Kaya continued pressing hard against the K League 1 contenders.

That tenacity got Kaya their reward just three minutes after the restart. A good run into space by Ryo Fuji led to a cross that flew across the face of the goal and into the path of the Kaya skipper, Jovin Bedic, at the opposite end of the box.

Bedic struck with the first touch, sending a volley goalwards to the far end of the net. This left Ulsan keeper, Jo Su-huk, unable to reach. Kaya equalized, 1-1.

The celebrations was short lived, though, as Oh Se-hun found Yoon Bit-garam in between the defense. The MVP from the last ACL season showed his skill as he scores a brace in front of a desperate Kaya defense, who could only try and block the shot acrobatically. This puts the advantage back to Ulsan Hyundai, 2-1, in the 51st minute.

Following the goal, the match showed more promise as it started turning into a midfield battle with the occasional breakthroughs. But just like it did by the end of the first half, Kaya gradually mounted another string of offensives just as we neared the final whistle. You can see from the faces of the Korean defenders that they were against the wall. But they held firm to soldier Kaya's late scare, ending the game in Ulsan Hyundai's favor, 2-1, against Kaya FC Iloilo.

The defending champions put themselves even further ahead of the pack in Group F. Meanwhile, Kaya's commendable performance of putting the leaders on their toes could be a sign of better things to come for the Ilonggo side.

And when that happens, ESBF will definitely let you know.

See you on the touchline.