Ceres drops opening semis match

MISSING some key players, reigning UFL champion Ceres-La Salle suffered a 1-2 defeat to S-League side Tampines Rovers Sunday night in the first leg of their Singapore Cup semifinal tie at Jurong West Stadium.

Ceres’ Spanish winger Bienvenido Marañon cancelled out an early strike from Mustafic Fahrudin, but Sufian Anuar’s goal early in the second half proved to be the difference between the two sides that also met in the group stage of the AFC Cup early this year.

Aiming to become the first PH side to reach the finals, the Bacolod club will try to overturn the slim advantage in the second leg at Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday when Stephan Schrock, Kevin Ingreso and Manny Ott, who were all suspended for the first leg, return to the squad.

“The players gave everything they had against a very strong opponent in Tampines,” said Ceres technical director Ali Go. “It’ll be an exciting game in the second leg and whoever wins deserves to go through.”  Cedelf P. Tupas