Jovin Bedic’s late penalty secured Kaya-Iloilo’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Dynamic Herb Cebu on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 for a third successive appearance in the final of the Copa Paulino Alcantara at the PFF National Training Centre in Carmona, Cavite.
A handball against Cebu captain Baris Tasci inside the box allowed Bedic to score from the spot in the 86th minute and helped Kaya set up a showdown with the Azkals Development Team for the title of this year’s only domestic competition.
Bedic’s winner was all Kaya needed to overcome a tough Cebu side that pressed for most of the match.
“Cebu is really an organized team and we really needed to stay patient and I think that was the key for us,” said Kaya coach Yu Hoshide.
The win extended Kaya’s unbeaten run in domestic competitions to nine consecutive matches dating back to last year’s runner-up finish in the Philippines Football League.
Now, Kaya has an opportunity to bring home a silverware for the first time since the first Copa in 2018 when it plays ADT in the final on Friday, November 19.
Cebu hopes to end its maiden foray in top-flight football on a winning note against Stallion-Laguna for third place on the same day.
A physical affair marred by 25 combined fouls and five yellow cards and Cebu’s uptempo style kept the match scoreless as Kaya couldn’t find a clear chance of finding the back of the net.
Cebu’s best chance came seconds into the restart but Ricky Sendra’s header off Nicolas Ferrer’s corner was batted away by Kaya’s veteran keeper Michael Casas, who made his second straight.
Kaya opted for a patient approach in the second half and held more than two-thirds of possession in hopes of finding holes in the tactics of Cebu coach Bing-Bing Colina, who was once on the other side calling the shots in the 2020 AFC Cup.
Extra time loomed until Kaya got a big break when Shirmar Felongco sent a cross to the right side for Daizo Horikoshi, who was being defended by Tasci in the penalty area.
Horikoshi lifted the ball and hit Tasci’s left arm, prompting referee Mick Jon Pineda to point at the spot. Bedic calmly converted the penalty for his third Copa goal and fourth across all competitions in 2021.
“The goal was a big break for Kaya,” Colina said. “We also had our chances in the second half. Our plan defensively was to make a transition attack, but Kaya also defended well.”