MANILA – Ceres-Negros FC saw its campaign in the 2019 AFC Cup come to an end after bowing to Hanoi FC, 1-2, in the second leg of the ASEAN Zonal semifinals on Tuesday at the Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Needing to win or at least a 2-2 draw to advance to the ASEAN Zonal finals, the Busmen fell short of its target to wound up the two-leg zonal semifinals with 2-3 aggregate score.
“For me Hanoi is the strongest team that we played this year,” said Ceres-Negros head coach Risto Vidakovic.
Hanoi looked to pound on Ceres-Negros in the opening half with Ngan Van Dai and Do Hung Dung had close range attempts but was foiled by Busmen goal keeper Roland Muller.
Hanoi finally break the scoreless deadlock early in the second half with Papa Omar Faye converting from a pass by Nguyen Van Quyet. The lead was quickly double with Van Quyet scoring on a strike.
Ceres-Negros, however, made its last push with substitute Curt Dizon scoring from a pass by Stephan Schrock but could not score a follow up goal to suffer the aggregate defeat.
The outcome allows Hanoi to face Indonesian side PSM Makassar or compatriots Becamex Binh Duong as both clubs shall face each other on late Wednesday to earn the right to face the 2018 Vietnamese champions./PN
