Defending champion Kaya-Iloilo and United City FC settled for a 1-1 draw in their highly-anticipated Copa Paulino Alcantara match held Monday, March 28, 2022 at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite.
Kaya’s Daizo Horikoshi cancelled Mike Ott’s opening goal with an equalizer in the second half, forcing the last two domestic champions and the country’s representatives in AFC club competitions to share the spoils after the final whistle.
Both clubs remained level on points at four apiece, with the 2020 Philippines Football League winner UCFC on top of the table on goal difference.
The tie also extended Kaya’s unbeaten run in local competitions to 11 consecutive matches dating back to the start of the 2020 PFL season.
Kaya has not lost a domestic match since losing to Ceres-Negros in the Copa Final back in November 2019.
Both teams had their chances early in the contest. Kaya almost took the early lead when striker Robert Lopez Mendy missed a chance after beating two United City defenders.
United City would get the upper hand in the 34th minute. Kaya goalkeeper Zach Banzon made a poor clearance after being pressured by Ivan Ouano, allowing Ott to volley a shot into the back of the net.
Kaya drew level in the 56th minute. Horikoshi got a long ball to the left flank before beating United City’s Jordan Jarvis for a right-footed attempt that past goalkeeper Matthew Silva.
The two sides tried to break the tie, with Kaya inserting Sandro Reyes and Kenshiro Daniels making his United City debut against his old club, but to no avail.
United City will have little time to recover as it faces the Azkals Development Team on March 31 to begin the tail end of a busy schedule before heading to Thailand for the AFC Champions League.
Kaya, on the other hand, takes another two-week break before returning to action on April 11 against Mendiola FC 1991.