Sydney blasts Kaya Iloilo in ACL qualifier

Kaya Iloilo played superb defense for most of the first half before Sydney stomped its class in the end. AFC

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Sydney FC denied Kaya Iloilo a second consecutive year in the AFC Champions League group stages after scoring a 5-0 home win in their qualifying match on Tuesday night at the Jubilee Stadium in Sydney.

Sydney broke the floodgates in the second half as Bobo Da Silva and Adam La Fondre each netted braces in the final 45 minutes to seal their club's dominance over Kaya Iloilo, which did a good job defensively for most of the first half.

Kaya Iloilo turned to its defense in the early goings to keep the Sydney crowd silent.

But Sydney broke the ice in the 30th minute when Trent Buhagian retrieved the ball after a Zach Banzon save and slotted it into the goalmouth.

Sydney then began the breakaway in the 47th minute when Da Silva scored another close-range attempt to make it 2-0.

He then showed his striking power in the 49th minute when he sent a penalty kick in that Banzon could not save despite picking the right direction.

La Fondre continued from where Da Silva left off as the substitute made it 4-0 with a 71st-minute goal before sealing the win with an 81st-minute attack.

The win sent Sydney to Group H, joining Jeonbuk, Yokohama, and Gia Lai.

The outcome means United Clark will be the only PFL representative to the ACL group stages, joining BG Pathum, Jeonnam, and Melbourne City in Group G.

Meanwhile, Kaya Iloilo will be settling for a spot in the AFC Cup group stages, joining Bali, Kedah, and Visakha in Group G of the said event.

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