DUSHANBE—No stranger to overcoming tough conditions in the AFC Cup, Filipino club Ceres Negros hopes to draw inspiration from the recent performance of the Azkals here when they clash with Tajikistan champion Istiklol in the first leg of the AFC Cup inter-zone semifinals on Tuesday.
Despite a tough travel itinerary, the Azkals turned back Tajikistan, 4-3, last June in front of close to 15,000 fans in an Asian Cup Qualifying match.
That familiarity with the opposition will be a big boost for the Busmen as they try to gain an early advantage in the battle of zonal champions from Southeast Asia and Central Asia at the newly built Hisor Central Stadium.
Five Ceres players saw action for the Azkals in the win against the Tajiks.
“They’re a big team (Istiklol) and I’m guessing they will be similar to the national team,” said Ceres midfielder Luke Woodland, who came in as a substitute against Tajikistan in that Asian Cup match.
“We’re playing away from home, we just need to do what we’ve been doing the past few games.”
Istiklol, which reached the final of the AFC Cup in 2015, went unbeaten in the group stage, winning five of six matches to rule the Central Asian zone.