Newly-crowned PFF Women’s League (PWL) champion Kaya FC-Iloilo had a resounding return to the AFC Women’s Champions League (AWCL), routing host FC Ilbirs, 6-0, in the preliminary stage Monday night at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Kaya was the first women’s professional club from the Philippines to have participated in AWCL, reaching the group stage in the 2024-25 season.
PWL most valuable player Alex Carpio sustained her personal momentum, scoring a brace to lead her team while four other Kaya players added a goal each.
Carpio opened Kaya’s account with a header off a Maye Mendaño left corner kick in the 25th minute and added another headed goal before subbing out in the 80th minute.
“We all feel really good, I think the energy was very high. As you can tell from the bench, everyone’s in positive spirits,” Carpio, named Woman of the Match, said.
Japanese sweeper Saki Yoshida, a scorer of two goals in the 2026 PWL, scored her first in an international club competition with another corner set piece header in the 39th minute, this time delivered by Inday Tolentin from the right.
Kaya scored on another corner, with Mendaño sinking an Olympic goal from her left corner kick in the 57th minute, followed by an 18-yard rocket by Tolentin from the top right area of the penalty box in the 73rd minute.
American beach soccer national team standout Marissa Vasquez had the last say for Kaya, rewarding her relentless goal attacks by scoring in the 90+1st minute off a heel pass by Bhebhe Lemoran.
“From what we’ve been training and before coming here, I always tell the players to always do their best, play their best, give it all inside the game,” said Kaya head coach David Basa. “Good job for my players for following the game plan and keep pushing every time.”
Kaya will next play Cambodian side Phnom Penh Crown, who earlier lost to the Isabella Bandoja and Lanie Ortillo-powered TSL of Hong Kong, on August 23 at 6pm (Philippine time).
(Photo from AFC)
