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Post by cjeagle on Apr 12, 2016 2:56:02 GMT 8
AFC Cup 2016 - MD4: Group F preview / Apr 11 2016 / Male: Hong Kong’s Kitchee are boosted by the return of Spanish duo Fernando Recio and Jordi Tarres from injury for Tuesday’s meeting with New Radiant of the Maldives in their Group F AFC Cup tie at Male’s National Stadium. Defender Recio and forward Tarres (pictured, left) have missed out the last two AFC Cup fixtures after both started the Hong Kong champions’ AFC Cup opener, a 1-0 win over Philippines side Kaya FC. Since then, Kitchee have lost to Singapore’s Balestier Khalsa and been held to a goalless draw in Hong Kong by Tuesday’s opponents but coach Alex Chu is confident his pair of Spaniards can help put the 2014 semi-finalists back on track. “The two players who were injured in our first meeting with New Radiant will start the game and it will really help us a lot,” said Chu, who saw his side defeat South China 3-0 in the League Cup final on Saturday. “We have four or five players who have played before in this stadium and that will absolutely be of benefit to us. “Although the temperature will be high, which won’t be a good thing for our team, if we can keep the ball and control the game, then I think we can get the three points tomorrow.” New Radiant, meanwhile, are looking for their first win of the 2016 campaign after draws with Balestier and Kitchee sandwiched a 1-0 defeat to Kaya. “We are well prepared for this game, but I feel it will be even more difficult than the first leg due to the involvement of the two returning players for Kitchee,” said New Radiant coach Iordan Stoykov. “We are fully committed to defend our name. We can take home advantage and both the weather and the supporters will help us. “Football is unpredictable and we will see how things will go tomorrow.” Group F also sees Balestier host pace-setters Kaya with the home side currently suffering a five-match winless run in all competitions which has been compounded by injuries. “Robert Pericic is injured, Fadhil Noh is still coming back from injury and is not ready to start while Miroslav Kristic is also not in form,” said Balestier coach Marko Kraljevic, who saw his side lose their most recent outing 1-0 to Tampines Rovers last Thursday. “Kaya play a good technical game on the ground and have an aggressive midfield, while we have defended well so far, but have problems scoring. “We must go all out to win the game, especially when we need to improve our performances from the S.League.” By contrast, Kaya have enjoyed a stellar start to their maiden continental campaign with consecutive 1-0 home wins over New Radiant and Balestier putting them top of the standings. “Every away game is precious and we have to keep our composure to get a result away from home,” said Kaya coach Joel Villarino. "We are focused on doing well to try and qualify for the AFC Cup, and to finish second place in the group will be good enough for us." www.the-afc.com/afc-cup-2016/afc-cup-2016-md4-group-f-preview
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Post by cjeagle on Apr 12, 2016 2:58:14 GMT 8
AFC Cup 2016 - MD4: Group E preview / Apr 11 2016 / Bacolod City: Tampines Rovers coach V. Sundramoorthy is aiming for a victory over Philippine hosts Ceres La Salle that would see the S-League side take a big step towards the last 16 of the AFC Cup in the top-of-the-table Group E clash at Pana-ad Park and Football Stadium on Tuesday. Tampines currently set the pace in the group with seven points from three games at the midway point of the group stage, two ahead of the Filipino club, who have picked up a win and two draws in their debut continental campaign so far. The sides shared a hard-fought 1-1 draw last month in Singapore when Hafiz Sujad’s 69th minute opener was cancelled out by Ceres striker Adrian Gallardo a minute form time. “It was a good game back home when we played Ceres. It’s important that we get a good result tomorrow for us to have a good chance of qualifying to the next round,” said Sundramoorthy. “It’s a tough game when you travel and you try to settle down and still try to perform. But we are definitely prepared to play against Ceres. “The boys our fresh, even though we’ve travelled far, and we want to get a good result.” Franklin Muescan’s Ceres side advanced to the UFL Cup final last week at the expense of fellow AFC campaigners Kaya FC on penalties, and the coach is looking for his team to continue that winning momentum. “The players are very motivated especially after our last game against Tampines,” said Ceres coach Muescan. “We have to continue what we are doing because the players are in good form. “A win will be a good achievement for us in tomorrow’s game and the support of the fans will be a big factor. “The players are ready to give everything because this could be the turning point of our campaign.” In Group E’s later clash on Tuesday, Malaysia’s Selangor will host Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club with the home side see seeking a second win of the 2016 continental campaign after the Matchday Three win over the visiting Bangaldesh club. Zainal Abidin Hassan’s side have, though, been struggling in their domestic league so far and lost 3-1 away to Felda United on Friday. “We had been suffering from inconsistent form and we have been working hard to change this tendency,” said Selangor coach Zainal. “Tomorrow it is very important for us to win and get three points.” Visitors Sheikh Jamal, meanwhile, have had a difficult introduction to continental competition after suffering three consecutive defeats but there was distinct improvement in last month’s 4-3 defeat to Tuesday’s opponents. “Selangor are a strong side who plays well at home, so it is going to be a hard match for us,” said Sheikh Jamal coach Shafiqul Islam Manik. “We only arrived in Kuala Lumpur this morning due to the long overnight travel. “We have injury problems and other players had moved to other clubs ahead of the new domestic season, so it will be a difficult game.” www.the-afc.com/afc-cup-2016/afc-cup-2016-md4-group-e-preview
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Post by strikerbon on Apr 12, 2016 21:09:44 GMT 8
Kaya leading 3-0. they're controlling the game so far. Ceres leading 2-0 at the half under the bad condition. both goals are from the spot. the game is 1 hour late because the water is clogging the pitch
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Post by cjeagle on Apr 12, 2016 21:34:48 GMT 8
Kitchee 2-0 New Radiant FT Kaya FC 3-0 Balestier Khalsa FT Ceres-Lasalle FC 2-0 Tampines Rover HT
Philippine clubs dominating their Singaporean counterparts right now. Kaya picks up crucial away win in Singapore to lead Grp F with 9 points ahead of Kitchee FC's 7 points and Balestier Khalsa's 4 after 4 games of group stage play.
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Post by cjeagle on Apr 12, 2016 22:23:57 GMT 8
Ceres Lasalle 2-1 Tampines Rover FT
Ceres now top of Group E with 8 points followed by Tampines with 7.
Kaya picks up crucial away win in Singapore to lead Grp F with 9 points ahead of Kitchee FC's 7 points and Balestier Khalsa's 4.
It looks like both Philippine clubs will make the round of 16 as they top both their groups after 4 games of group stage play.
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Post by strikerbon on Apr 12, 2016 22:24:24 GMT 8
FT: Ceres 2 Tampines rovers 1. Schrock and Ingreso didnt play because of injury
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Post by cjeagle on Apr 12, 2016 22:29:01 GMT 8
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Post by iniestafan on Apr 12, 2016 23:05:13 GMT 8
I just read in a Singaporean Forum that because of the recent success, UFL clubs might replace Sleague clubs in the ACL playoffs? I didnt imagine this would happen at least 2-3months ago! Philippine football is on a roll! Hopefully our UFL clubs' game get the needed media exposure in lieu of Azkals game.
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Post by cjeagle on Apr 12, 2016 23:15:18 GMT 8
What a performance. What a win. What a night. No amount of praise would be enough to describe Kaya Football Club’s magnificent, 3-0, away win against FC Balestier Khalsa at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore. It was Kaya’s fourth 2016 Asian Football Confederation Cup Group F fixture and their third consecutive win in the said competition. The result made Kaya top the Group F table with 9 points after four games played. Alfred Osei (15′), Kenshiro Daniels (25′) and substitute Louis Clark (73′) were Kaya’s goalscorers of the night, but it was an all around impressive team performance from the squad. From the start of the match, Kaya was evidently the side which had more bravado in them. Kaya may have been designated as the away side, but it was them who played the match as if it was at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. There were signs that Kaya smelled blood when Balestier goalkeeper Zaiful Nizam was made to work early in the match as he rushed out to clear the danger poised by OJ Porteria’s through pass. At the other end, though, Kaya goalkeeper Matthew Acton denied Balestier striker Mirsolav Kristic with a fine save. Kristic’s fellow forward, Zulkiffli Hassim, also threatened Kaya’s backline with a wonderful cross, only for his teammate, Emir Lotinac, to squander the attempt. That was as good as it got for Balestier since Kaya dictated the tempo afterwards. Kaya finally got the goal their aggressive start warranted at the 15th minute. From a corner kick, Daniels whipped in a fabulous ball into the Balestier box which found its way to Osei. Osei capitalized on Balestier’s poor set-piece marking and headed the ball home to give the Philippine side the priceless, 1-0, lead. Just moments after the restart, Kaya could have doubled their lead when Jovin Bedic played Anton Ugarte through who then forced Zaiful to make a fine save. It was all Kaya at that point as they forced Balesteir to concede free kicks again and again. At one such instance, Daniels delivered another ball into Balestier’s territory which, again, found an unmarked Osei whose eventual shot was blocked this time. Daniels, however, wasn’t to be denied in the match and he scored Kaya’s inevitable second goal in the evening. Bedic looped a ball for Daniels to chase and the latter made no mistake in putting the ball pass Zaiful at the 25th minute. In just less than thirty minutes into the game, Kaya had a resounding, 2-0, advantage on away soil. Let that sink in after their defensive performance in the Kitchee SC away loss at Hong Kong. It could have been game, set and match before halftime, but Kaya was unlucky to add a third goal. Not that they were complaining, though, as this was a dream start which could only have been imagined before kickoff. At the break, it was Balestier, 0-2, Kaya. Come the second half, it was still Kaya who was in cruise control. Even a more physical and ragged Balestier couldn’t harm them. Porteria forced a good save from Zaiful then Bedic miscued a pass which came his way. At the 65th minute, however, was when it all could have went downhill for Kaya. Masa Omura fouled Kristic in his own box and the referee had no choice but to award Balestier the penalty. Acton, however, was alert and he added misery to Balestier’s evening when he guessed right and cleared Kristic’s penalty for a corner. With pressure off their shoulders, Kaya aimed to get that third goal to add an exclamation point in their fantastic performance. Clark whipped in some good crosses from the right flank, but Porteria failed to convert any of them when the latter made some good runs in the box. Zaiful was also a hindrance and was on damage limitation mode when he denied Daniels and Bedic yet again with some routine stops. Nevertheless, that third goal finally arrived for Kaya at the 73rd minute. Clark timed his run perfectly and controlled a long pass well then unleashed a powerful shot towards the bottom left post which left Zaiful helpless. An incredible night at Singapore just became more impressive as Kaya led, 3-0, on away soil. Before the end of ninety minutes, Acton was alert to keep the clean sheet. In the end, Kaya held on to beat Balestier, 3-0, in Singapore. A revenge match against Kitchee on April 26, 2016 (Tuesday) is next for Kaya. It must be remembered that Kitchee was the only team who has defeated Kaya in this tournament. No doubt Kaya would want to get revenge for that one. Venue and kickoff time are yet to be announced. tiebreakertimes.com/tbt/kaya-enjoy-perfect-away-night-with-three-goal-rout-of-balestier/54940
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Post by cornellius on Apr 12, 2016 23:16:06 GMT 8
Another good night for philippine football, another milestone for our UFL clubs. Lets hope our local media will take interest on these successes so as to promote this beatiful support and get the attention they truly deserves. Congrats Ceres and Kaya!
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Post by cjeagle on Apr 12, 2016 23:39:59 GMT 8
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Post by cjeagle on Apr 13, 2016 3:42:16 GMT 8
Despite fans getting soaked by a thunderstorm, Ceres Lasalle(Philippines) again had the best attendance among all East Zone AFC squads in the AFC Cup with 6,400 ahead of traditionally football fan friendly countries like Selangor(Malaysia) with 2,847 and Balestier Khalsa(Singapore) with 1,143 on the same day. Most of the fans in Singapore were actually cheering for the away team Kaya FC from the Philippines, if you listen to their loud cheering and the videos, so Kaya FC felt like they were playing at home.
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Post by hero99 on Apr 13, 2016 9:54:51 GMT 8
Most of the fans in Singapore were actually cheering for the away team Kaya FC from the Philippines, if you listen to their loud cheering and the videos, so Kaya FC felt like they were playing at home. Those were OFW fans working in Singapore
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Post by cilantro on Apr 13, 2016 11:53:08 GMT 8
ibang klase development ng pinoy football because of the ufl. i guess a lot of peeps in the region are really surprised w/ how things are unfolding in the afc
btw, is nic o'donnell still w/ kaya?
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Post by jonny on Apr 13, 2016 14:48:10 GMT 8
ibang klase development ng pinoy football because of the ufl. i guess a lot of peeps in the region are really surprised w/ how things are unfolding in the afc btw, is nic o'donnell still w/ kaya? He is playing for Global Fc now.
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