Game today:

(Rizal Memorial Football Stadium)

7 p.m. — Kaya FC-Iloilo vs Cong an Ha Noi FC

Kaya FC-Iloilo looks to pull off an earthshaking upset when it faces Cong an Ha Noi FC to start the new year in the Shopee Cup on Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Kick-off will be at 7 p.m. with the defending Philippines Football League (PFL) champion tipped to go all out as it plays its first match of the year.

The Lions are pressured to come up with a victory as they are in fifth place in Group BH after losing to Kuala Lumpur City FC last 22 August at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Malaysia before absorbing a 0-7 setback to Buriram United FC last 26 September at the Buriram Stadium in Thailand.

Kaya head coach Yu Hoshide said they trained during the holidays in order to stay in shape for the tournament.

After all, their last match in 2024 was a 1-3 loss to Sydney FC in the AFC Champions League 2 (ACL 2) at the Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Carlton, Australia.

“Actually, we are getting better, especially compared to last time against Buriram. We even did well in Champions League,” said Hoshide, whose side finished with a 1-1-4 record.

“Obviously, it’s a big challenge we have ahead. It’s a really strong team that we’re facing, but I believe in our possibilities of playing at home.”

“We are really strong at home and we have a good squad.”

Despite the departure of veterans Daizo Horikoshi, Robert Lopez Mendy, and Yi Young Park as well as the apparent knee injury that goalkeeper Patrick Deyto suffered in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup, Kaya still has a solid squad to bank on.

Expected to step up for the Lions is Shuto Komaki, who scored seven goals in the PFL as well as defenders Simone Rota and Fitch Arboleda.

Forward Janjan Melliza is also expected to add some firepower for Kaya after scoring three goals in the PFL.

But toppling down Cong an Ha Noi, which has a 2-0 win-loss record in Group B, will be easier said than done as it will be bannered by five players who were part of Vietnam’s recent title win in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup last week.

Goalkeeper Nguyễn Filip, midfielders Lê Phạm Thành Long and Nguyễn Quang Hải, defenders Vũ Văn Thanh and Bùi Hoàng Việt Anh played for the Vietnamese during the tournament, including a 1-1 draw against the Philippines last 18 December at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

For Kaya goalkeeper Walid Birrou, he hopes to see more supporters in the stadium despite the match coinciding with the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

“We want to get points. We want to give something for our crowd, our fans to cheer on,” said Birrou, who will be making his Shopee Cup debut.