Despite the draw, however, the result extends Lao Toyota’s winless run in the AFC Cup to 10 matches, with their last win coming back in 2016.
For Kaya FC it was their first time in the AFC Cup since 2016 and they started the better of the two teams, forcing Outthilath Nammakhoth into a number of early saves in the Lao Toyota goal.
The home side should’ve taken the lead when they hit on the counter attack just before 15 minutes, but captain Kazuo Homma saw his shot rebound off the woodwork, before Saison Khounsamnan saw his free-kick sail just wide of the target two minutes later.
Noel Marcaida’s side made them pay for those misses just minutes later when Yannick Tuason was played in over the top of the Lao Toyota defence, squaring the ball across the box to an unmarked Jovin Bedic who smashed home his first time effort.
The visitors controlled the match as the first half wore on but couldn’t add to their solitary goal in the first 45 minutes, and it was the home side that almost equalised right on the stroke of half time, but Victor Amaro’s header was off-target.
Despite having the better of the running throughout the match, the Filipino side couldn’t find the crucial second goal to kill off the match and as the match wore on the home side started to look dangerous and threaten the Kaya FC defence as they sniffed an opportunity to earn a rare point in the continental competition.
That point was earned with just three minutes left to play when Aphideth was in the right place at the right time to turn home Kazuo’s cross after the 38-year-old Japanese attacker fought hard to win the ball on the byline.
Lao Toyota will next travel to Indonesia to face PSM Makassar on March 13, while Kaya FC return home to face Singapore’s Home United.
