By Paulo Loreto Lim

Ceres-Negros FC secured a spot in the ASEAN Zone semifinals after defeating Tampines Rovers FC, 4-2, in the final Group G match of the 2017 AFC Cup at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore last night.
The game started quickly for the Negrense club. Following a deflection off a Rovers defender, Ceres forward Bienvenido Marañón landed a header in the sixth minute.
Following another error from the Singaporean side, which was picked up by Ceres midfielder Manuel Ott and passed to Marañón, the striker earned himself a brace in the 23rd minute.
Rovers quickly responded in the 25th minute and cut the deficit in half, with a goal from midfielder Yasir Hanapi, leaving them down by only one goal, 2-1.
However, in the 27th minute, Rovers faced another setback after defender Shakir Hamzah committed a dangerous foul on forward Fernando Rodríguez, earning a red card and leaving the Singaporean outfit down to 10 men.
In the 43rd minute, the referee ruled Rovers midfielder Ismadi Mukhtar committed a handball in the area, earning himself a yellow card and yielding a penalty kick to the Negrense side. Rodríguez stepped up and gave Ceres a 3-1 lead just before halftime.
Around the 58th minute, Ceres defender Junior Muñoz was caught tugging on the shirt of second half substitute Khairul Amri in the area, earning a penalty for the home side. Rovers midfielder Yasir Hanapi sent his kick straight down the middle of goal, past Ceres keeper Roland Müller, narrowing the gap, with Ceres still leading 3-2.
Ceres pulled one back following a set piece in the 63rd minute, with defender Kota Kawase scoring with a header, putting the Negrenses up 4-2.
A series of corner kicks for the Singaporean side just before the 75th minute made things cagey for Ceres, with Müller boisterously compelling his teammates to focus.
Near the close of the second half, Rovers goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud was showing signs of a possible injury, however, being down one man and with all substitutions used, the home side had no other options but to keep him in the match.
By the final whistle, it was already confirmed, Hà Nội FC defeated Malaysian side Felda United, 4-1, in the other group match at the Mỹ Đình National Stadium in Hanoi. The result left Ceres and Hà Nội tied on 11 points atop the group, with the Negrense side having an advantage with goal difference.
For topping the group, Ceres earned an automatic place in the ASEAN Zone semifinals, which are set to begin in two weeks, between May 16 and 17. For Hà Nội, their qualification is incumbent on the results of other second place clubs, where, as of press time, it appears Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta’zim FC will be taking that qualifying spot./WDJ