By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA—Just as everyone at the Rizal Memorial Stadium was about to take a goalless stalemate between Kaya and New Radiant, OJ Porteria made a breakthrough, scoring the winner ten seconds from full-time as the reigning UFL Cup champion beat the reigning Maldivian champion 1-0, in the former's first AFC Cup match at home on Tuesday night.
Kaya is now in joint second with opening night tormentor Kitchee, which lost 0-1 at Group F-leading Balestier Khalsa at the Jalan Besar Stadium, but the Hong Kong side grabbed second on head-to-head with their opening win a fortnight ago.
What started as a quiet match turned into an action-packed affair in the 15th minute, when visiting captain Niyaz Ahmed fired the first warning shot, a long range effort which needed a diving stop by Kaya keeper Matthew Acton.
The former Young Socceroo was called into action shortly after by stopping Ahmed Suhail on his tracks as both sides head to the changing rooms goalless at halftime.
The former DC United youth standout grabbed all three points for the home side as he received a cross from Junior Muñoz and volleyed the ball past Sulemana Abu inside the top left corner of the goal to give the Filipino side its first full three points of the continental tournament much to the delight of the loud Kaya faithful in the Rizal grandstand.
Kaya, now on a three-match winning streak in all competitions, will face the Tigers next week at the said venue.
What started as a quiet match turned into an action-packed affair in the 15th minute, when visiting captain Niyaz Ahmed fired the first warning shot, a long range effort which needed a diving stop by Kaya keeper Matthew Acton.
The former Young Socceroo was called into action shortly after by stopping Ahmed Suhail on his tracks as both sides head to the changing rooms goalless at halftime.
The former DC United youth standout grabbed all three points for the home side as he received a cross from Junior Muñoz and volleyed the ball past Sulemana Abu inside the top left corner of the goal to give the Filipino side its first full three points of the continental tournament much to the delight of the loud Kaya faithful in the Rizal grandstand.
Kaya, now on a three-match winning streak in all competitions, will face the Tigers next week at the said venue.
New Radiant dropped to the cellar of Group F with only one point after two matches after drawing its opener against the S-League outfit.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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