AFC Cup: Ceres slays giant JDT, makes Asean zonal finals

PENALTY? Johor Darul Ta’zim defender AIdil Zafuan pulls Ceres-Negros Fernando Rodriguez’s jersey while defending a corner kick, leading to the penalty that won the AFC Cup Asean zonal semifinal tie for Ceres. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Mymy Alagaban

BACOLOD CITY – Ceres Negros treated this football-loving city another performance to remember. This time, the Busmen overcame a Southeast Asian giant, while adding a touch of history to their achievement.

Spanish striker Fernando Rodriguez kept his cool from the penalty spot in stoppage time as Ceres nipped former champion Johor Darul Ta’zim, 2-1, to become the first Filipino club to reach the AFC Cup Asean zonals at Panaad Stadium.

Fouled by Aidil Zafuan, Rodriguez slotted the ball past JDT goalkeeper Farizal Marlias in the 92nd minute, turning the stadium into a garden of delight.

“I think after the 180 minutes, we deserved to go through,” said Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic. “We got a bit lucky with the penalty, but what’s most important is we got the win.”

Rodriguez’s goal made it 4-4 on aggregate, but the Busmen advanced on the away goals rule, after scoring twice in the first leg in Johor Bahru.

Ceres will play Home United of Singapore in the two-legged Asean finals, the equivalent of which is the quarterfinal stage in Asia’s second-tier club competition, in August.

The Busmen were rewarded for their enterprising play early on paid with Kota Kawase stabbing home a Kevin Ingreso delivery in the 26th minute, before Gabriel Guerra levelled for the visitors 20 minutes into the second half, rifling home a shot from a tight angle just inside the box.

Guerra’s goal sucked the energy out of the Panaad, which had witnessed Ceres blitzed through the opposition in the group stage.

OJ Porteria almost restored the advantage for Ceres two minutes later, but his volley at the far post from Iain Ramsay’s cross went over.

But just when it looked like all hope was lost for the Busmen, they were handed a lifeline when Chinese referee Fu Ming called a foul on Zafuan for pulling Rodriguez down as he went for the ball on Ingreso’s corner kick.

With the entire stadium on pins and needles, Rodriguez calmly sent his penalty down the middle, even as Farizal lunged to his right.

“I had confidence in myself, but I also thought about my family (as I was taking the penalty),” said Rodriguez, who also scored in the first leg.

Farizal’s frustrations boiled over before the restart as he was seen shoving the Fu Ming as well as another assistant referee.

While JDT, which ruled the competition in 2015, walked off the pitch in despair, the Busmen went on their victory lap, exorcising the ghosts of last season’s heartbreaking exit in the same stage against South China of Hong Kong.