Eastern met up with Kaya FC-Iloilo in Mong Kok Stadium on Thursday night (7th November) for the AFC Champions League Two (Group E) clash. Kaya FC-Iloilo beat Eastern by 2:1.
After the start of the first half, the visiting Kaya FC-Iloilo had early opportunities, but long-range shots from Geri Rey and Yamazaki Kaishu failed to hit the target.
At the 12-minute mark, Eastern responded when Victor Bertomeu received a long pass from a teammate and took a shot inside the penalty area, which was blocked by a defender.
Two minutes later, Kaya FC-Iloilo's Horikoshi Daizo also received a long pass and attempted a shot, which was collected by the goalkeeper.
Eastern then had a golden opportunity when Leung Kwun Chung sent a long pass forward, and Baffoe Noah headed the ball from the edge of the penalty area, unfortunately hitting the crossbar and bouncing out.
At the 32-minute mark, Kaya FC-Iloilo successfully opened the scoring. The referee pointed to a foul by Eastern's goalkeeper Yapp Hung Fai inside the penalty area, awarding Kaya FC-Iloilo a penalty kick. Horikoshi Daizo stepped up and scored with his right foot, giving Kaya FC-Iloilo a 1:0 lead.
Trailing behind, Eastern launched a counterattack. In the 37th minute, Yu Joy Yin Jesse crossed from the right, but Victor Bertomeu's header was easily caught by the goalkeeper.
At the 42-minute mark, Kaya FC-Iloilo nearly scored again when Komaki Shuto received a pass from Eric Esso and fired a powerful shot from a tight angle, which the goalkeeper parried out for a corner. A minute later, Horikoshi Daizo took a corner from the right, and Saito Akito shot over the bar during a scramble. The first half ended with Kaya FC-Iloilo leading Eastern 1:0.
In the second half, Eastern aggressively pushed forward. At the 47-minute mark, Baffoe Noah dribbled down the left flank into the penalty area and crossed from the byline, but Victor Bertomeu's first-time shot was cleared just in time by the defender. A minute later, Yu Joy Yin Jesse received a through ball from Felipe Alexandre and shot from inside the penalty area, but the ball went over the bar.
Eastern had another chance in the 64th minute when Baffoe Noah crossed from the left, but Marcos Gondra' header went over the goal.
At the 69-minute mark, Kaya FC-Iloilo's Jovin Bedic received his second yellow card and was sent off, leaving his team to play with ten men.
Eastern's efforts finally paid off in the 71st minute. Yu Joy Yin Jesse crossed from the right, and the defender failed to clear the ball far enough. Marcos Gondra received the ball at the edge of the penalty area and immediately fired a left-footed volley, sending the ball directly into the top corner of the net, equalizing the score at 1:1 for Eastern.
Eastern continued to create chances afterward. In the 83rd minute, Felipe Alexandre dribbled down the right into the penalty area and took a right-footed shot, which the goalkeeper parried out for a corner.
Despite being under pressure, Kaya FC-Iloilo took the lead again in the 86th minute. Eastern's Wong Tsz Ho committed a foul in the penalty area, giving Kaya FC-Iloilo another penalty kick. Roberto Lopez Mendy stepped up and calmly scored with his right foot, putting Kaya FC-Iloilo back in front at 2:1.
Eastern then pushed hard for an equalizer, but headers from Baffoe Noah and Daniel Vera failed to result in a goal.
Kaya FC-Iloilo also had a chance during stoppage time when Roberto Lopez Mendy's clever pass created a one-on-one opportunity for Jesus Melliza, but the goalkeeper came out quickly to make the save.
In the end, Kaya FC-Iloilo defeated Eastern 2:1, securing all three points.