Strong performance from Kaya as debutants hold defending ACL champs to just three goals

A valiant effort from AFC Champions League debutants Kaya FC-Iloilo saw defending champions Ulsan Hyundai struggle to fully dominate the match and only managed to score three goals past a determined Kaya side.

It took a lot for Kaya FC but they managed to save some of their honor as they kept the defending champions to a slim scoreline. A brace from Se-Hun Oh and a goal from Valeri Qazaishvili saw Ulsan Hyundai extending their winning streak to three.

12 minutes were enough for Ulsan Hyundai to score the opening goal courtesy of Oh due to a defensive breakdown from Kaya. Vako put the pressure on Kaya and forced them to commit a mistake before the 22-year old forward scored his first goal since his debut back in 2018.

Louie Casas was then put under immense pressure as two minutes after the opener, Ulsan Hyundai was at it again. He pulled off a fine save with his face to keep the scoreline to just one-nil.

The debutants got a rare sight of goal on the 25th minute as Kenshiro Daniels, against the run of play, intercepted the ball from Ki-Hee Kim but when he took the shot, he put too much power into it which send the ball flying over the bar.

It seemed as the half will end with the defending champions to just one-nil, Oh had other plans and scored his brace on the 40th minute as Chul Hong curled the ball to Oh who then headed it past Casas.

Daniels tried to pull one back as he won a free kick but his effort went over the bar again.

Into the second half, Vako would get his goal on the 48th minute after a defensive breakdown from Kaya. It served to be the third and last goal for Ulsan in this match.

The debutants looked to pull one back and they almost had it in the 53rd minute when team captain Jovin Bedic executed an incisive pass towards Daniels who took a shot against Hyeon-Woo Jo but the keeper was alert to the shot and parried it out.

Daniels almost pulled off a worldie as he took a long-range strike but Jo saved the effort with his fingertips.

The defending champions held much of the ball but failed to take full advantage against the first-timers in the competition. This win gives Ulsan their 12th straight victory in the ACL era.

"I'm very proud of how hard the boys worked," said head coach Graham Harvey on their performance against the current ACL title-holder.

He also said, "Defensively, we were very disciplined. Our back-four was very organized. I'm proud of what they've done and plaudits to the club because they've put on a good performance against the Champions of Asia."

It was all about his players and how they played in this match as they pulled off a feat that earned the respect not only of their opponents but hopefully, everyone around them as Harvey said, "Massive credits to our boys asthey earned the respect of the opposition."

They will face each other again in the return leg of the match on the 5th of July hoping to do the same performance or do an even better one that could possibly upset the defending champions and break their ACL winning-streak.