Jason Collins
Dailysports's expert
Eastern Sports Club
Kaya FC
The AFC Champions League may not be a must-watch for everyone, but it’s worth considering for betting opportunities. Here’s my prediction for the Eastern AA vs. Kaya match—can the home team secure three points?
Eastern AA
The Hong Kong club hasn’t delivered phenomenal results in this edition of the Champions League, with one win and two losses so far. They managed a victory away against Kaya but suffered a narrow 2-3 home loss to Hiroshima, conceding the deciding goal in stoppage time, and endured a heavy 0-5 away defeat to Sydney.
Domestically, Eastern AA is thriving, sitting at the top of the league table after seven rounds, with a three-point lead over the nearest rival, who has a game in hand.
Kaya
The Filipino club entered as one of the underdogs in their group, facing stronger opponents across the board. They lost their first two games against Hiroshima (0-3 away) and Sydney (1-4 at home). Their only realistic shot at points was against Eastern, but they came up short there as well.
Kaya leads in their local league, though there’s minimal competition—evident from their staggering 82:5 goal difference after just 14 matches. It’s crucial for them to secure any points in this tournament, and they could have a chance in the upcoming match if they bring their best game.
Probable Lineups
- Eastern AA: Yapp, Wong, Almasan, Kozubaev, Hall, Leung, Ng, Yu, Ma, Gondra, Baffoe.
- Kaya: Deyto, Menzi, Saito, Rota, Casambre, Komaki, Park, Yamazaki, Horikoshi, Melliza, Bedic.
Match Facts
- Eastern has won 3 of 4 home matches this season across all competitions.
- Kaya hasn’t won in their last four away games, with three losses and one draw.
- Odds for this match: Eastern 1.55, Draw 4.25, Kaya 5.2.
Head-to-Head
The first-round matchup was closely contested, with Eastern AA claiming a 2-1 away victory, although Kaya put up a strong fight.
Prediction
These two lesser-known underdogs in their group will battle it out, with the home team favored and holding a decent chance to win. Kaya will put up a fight, but taking away points will be challenging. I’m betting on a straightforward win for Eastern AA.
