Iloilo Kaya Futbol Club is just one win away from seeing action in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League’s group stage.
This, after the sudden pullout of Changchun Yatai FC, giving the Ilonggo team a chance to beat Australia’s Sydney FC on March 8 at the Netstrata Jubilee Arena in Australia to advance to the AFC Champions League’s tournament proper.
To recall, the AFC announced on Tuesday that it has accepted Changchun Yatai FC’s decision to withdraw but the reason for the pullout was not mentioned.
In accordance with the AFC Champions League 2022 Competition Regulations, the Playoff Stage match between Changchun Yatai FC and the winners of the Preliminary Stage tie between Australia’s Sydney FC and Kaya FC-Iloilo from the Philippines, which was scheduled to take place on March 15, 2022, has been canceled.
If Kaya-Iloilo wins their match against Sydney, they will join Champions League’s Group H along with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors from South Korea, Japan’s Yokohama F Marinos, and Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai.
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam will serve as host of the 2022 AFC Champions League from April 15 to May 1.
However, if the Philippine-based team will lose against Sydney FC, they will once again be relegated to the second tier 2022 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup.
Kaya-Iloilo head coach Yu Hoshide said this is really an interesting group and they are excited to play AFC Cup again. “Preparation will be the key to winning, so we will try our best to push for the title.”
The 2021 Copa Paulino Alcantara champion will compete for a AFC Champions League group stage slot. Four-time defending Philippines Football League (PFL) champion United City Football Club, on the other hand, will automatically play in the 2022 AFC Champions League.IMT Sports
