Ceres-Negros FC edged out A-League club Brisbane Roar, 3-2, at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre last night to advance to the play-off round of the 2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs, one step away from the group stage.

The Brisbane Roar opened the match with several chances, including a missed free kick opportunity by striker Fahid Ben Khalfallah in the 7th minute.

Brisbane forward Massimo Maccarone scored in the 35th minute, putting the A-League club on the scoreboard first. However, in the 43rd minute, Ceres midfielder Bienvenido Marañón scored the equalizer.

The two clubs when into halftime drawn 1-1.

Shortly after the start of the second half, a scuffle between Brisbane defender Ivan Franjic and Ceres defender Manuel Herrera broke out, resulting in a yellow card for each of the players.

In the 65th minute, Marañón put the Negrense club ahead, 2-1, and, 10 minutes later, Ceres striker Omid Nazari made it a 3-1 lead.

Brisbane midfielder Éric Bauthéac managed to pull one back, but it was not enough to close the gap and the Australian outfit was eliminated from the competition.

Bauthéac was also involved in a fairly awkward situation when, around halfway through the second half, the numbers on the back of his shirt began peeling off; a similar situation was also noticeable with Franjic and goalkeeper Jamie Young. The midfielder was temporarily forced to the sidelines as the club searched for a replacement shirt, which resulted in him wearing a jersey with numbers taped to the back.

Ceres-Negros FC advances to the play-off round, where they will meet Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian FC./PLL, WDJ