Ceres FC loses to Home United, 2-0; finishes second in Group F

By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr.

Ceres-Negros FC suffered their first 2018 AFC Cup loss in their final group stage match against Home United FC of Singapore, losing 2-0 at the Panaad Park and Stadium earlier this week.

The match was fairly quiet until Home United midfielder Izzdin Shafiq managed to convert a free kick attempt in the 80th minute into a goal. Later, well into stoppage time, after Home United striker Amiruldin Asraf was fouled in the penalty area, midfielder Song Ui-young doubled the lead with a successful penalty kick.

“My team played well tonight,” said Home United coach Aidil Sharin. “We worked hard, especially in the second half.”

For Ceres coach Risto Vidaković, he believes the Negrense side underestimated their opponents.

“This is [a] lesson learned for us not to be complacent,” he explained. “There is no easy opponent.”

The result put the Singaporean side atop Group F, relegating Ceres to second. Despite a superior overall goal difference by the Negrense outfit, their head-to-head goal difference gave the edge to Home United.

Both clubs advanced to the 2018 AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal semifinals, where Home United will meet Persija Jakarta of Indonesia on May 8 and Ceres faces Yangon United FC of Myanmar on May 9.

Ceres FC are the defending AFC Cup ASEAN Zone champions./JSG, WDJ