Ceres, Hanoi play first semifinal

leg tonight at the Panaad
By Adrian Stewart Co

Ceres-Negros FC faces defending V.League 1 champions Hanoi FC in the first leg of their 2019 AFC Cup ASEAN zonal semifinal tonight beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City. Ceres claimed the AFC Cup ASEAN zonal title in 2017 after defeating Singaporean club Home United FC in the finals.
“I believe, this year, we played in the toughest group in the tournament,” Ceres midfielder Bienvenido Marañón said an interview with the AFC. “Every match we took part in we enjoyed and played as if it were a final.”
The Bacolod City-based club was drawn in Group G this year alongside Shan United FC of the Myanmar National League, Becamex Bình Dương FC of Vietnam’s V.League 1, and Persija Jakarta of Indonesia’s Liga 1. Ceres ended the group stage in first place with a 5-1 record, closing with a 1-0 loss to Becamex.
Ahead of the semifinals, Hanoi comes in with a record of four wins, one draw, and one loss, including a massive 10-0 victory over Cambodian League club Nagaworld FC.
“I am looking forward to facing them,” Marañón added. “I know they have one of the best squads in Southeast Asia and both home and away matches are sure to be difficult.”
Incidentally, the year Ceres FC were crowned ASEAN Zone champions, the two were drawn together in Group G.
In their series, they opened the group stage with a 1-1 draw with the Negrense club later dominating their second meeting, winning 6-2.
While Hanoi finished second in the group that year, they were beaten out by Malaysia Super League club Johor Darul Ta’zim FC for best second place club./ASC, WDJ