By Paulo Loreto Lim

Ceres-Negros FC kept their 2017 AFC Cup hopes alive after defeating HàNội FC of Vietnam, 6-2, in their group stage match last night at the Panaad Park and Stadium, which included a straight red card after Ceres defender Manuel Herrera was punched.
Following a 60th minute HàNội free kick that was saved by Ceres goalkeeper Roland Müller, second half substitute HoàngVũ Samson was shown a straight red card after punching Herrera.
The Vietnamese forward walked off the pitch to loud booing from the home crowd.
The match started quickly for the HàNội, however, after forward Nguyen Van Quyet nearly chipped one into the net shortly after the third minute, but was pressed passed goal. Ceres midfielder Iain Ramsay almost had a response in the following minute, but overshot the goal.
In the first match between the two clubs back in February, it was Van Quyet who scored the equalizer in their eventual 1-1 draw.
In the 11th minute, Ceres was awarded a penalty following a foul committed by HàNội defender TrầnVănKiên.
Forward BienvenidoMarañón successfully converted and put the Negrense club in the lead, 1-0.
In the 20th minute, Ceres midfielder Kevin Ingreso doubled the lead to 2-0, with a long-range shot that was just out of reach of HàNội goalkeeper NguyễnVănCông.
Shortly after the goal, Ceres midfielder OJ Porteria appeared to commit an unintentional foul on HàNội defender SầmNgọcĐức, who fell to the ground and was observed by medical staff.
In the 24th minute, a free kick delivered by HàNội midfielder PhạmThànhLương brought the match back to a one-goal difference, 2-1.
A 36th minute free kick opportunity by Ceres midfielder Manuel Ott proved to be fruitless after it flew well outside the goal.
Following another foul committed by Porteria, HàNội was awarded a dangerous free kick in the 38th minute, which was successfully punched away by Müller. Shortly after, however, Uganda midfielder Moses Oloya nearly offered a second chance for the Vietnamese side to equalize, but his attempt landed atop the net.
With Ceres back in possession, forward Fernando Rodríguez fell after missing a 40th minute attempt at goal.
The first half closed with a couple dangerous set pieces from the Vietnamese outfit, both attempts shot above the goal.
HàNội opened the second half with an attempt by forward NguyễnQuangHải, which was scooped up by Müller.
Marañón had a chance for a brace in the 48th minute, but was ruled offside. Despite the call, the crowd still let out an audible cheer as the ball rolled into the goal.
A collision between Rodríguez and VănCông occurred as both were going for the ball near goal in the 50th minute. The Vietnamese keeper was eventually on his feet after recovering for a short moment. Three minutes later, the Ceres striker put the home side up 3-1 after picking up a deflection off Ott and lobbed it over the goalkeeper.
In the 69th minute, Rodríguez celebrated scoring a brace after putting Ceres up 4-1, however, a closer look shows the goal may have been an own goal.
Ramsay nearly made it 5-1 in the 83rd minute, but missed a golden opportunity with an open goal as his attempt spun away. That was quickly followed by a strike from Ott that went above goal.
HàNội received a bit of respite after being awarded a penalty in the 85th minute, with midfielder ĐỗHùngDũng successfully pulling one back; but that two-point gap was short-lived after Ceres midfielder Jason De Jong made it a 5-2 lead in the 87th minute.
Just before the end of regulation time, Marañón earned a brace and moved the Negrense club up to a 6-2 lead, which is how the match ended.
Ceres tentatively sits atop the group, tied on points with HàNội but with a superior goal difference. As of press time, the other group match, between Felda United of Malaysia and Tampines Rovers of Singapore, is currently underway at the Tun Abdul Razak Stadium in Malaysia, which may impact the standings./WDJ