Busmen target AFC finals slot against Vietnamese

HANOI—Returning to this Vietnamese capital city brought back wonderful memories for Ceres-Negros defender Alvaro Silva, who was based here three years ago.

Silva played one season for Hanoi FC, but he comes back to this football-mad city with a mission to lead the Busmen to a third consecutive AFC Cup Asean zone final appearance at the expense of the Vietnamese champions on Tuesday night at Hang Day Stadium.

“It’s great to be back here in Hanoi,” said Silva. “They have an amazing culture and I have so many friends here especially at the club (Hanoi FC). But tomorrow when we play I will have no friends on the other side and will only do everything I can to help my team win.”

The semifinal tie between the Filipino and Vietnamese champions is delicately poised at 1-1 after the first leg last week at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

Hanoi has a slim edge due to the away goals rule and aside from a victory, Ceres’ hopes of advancing to the final will be a scoring draw beyond two goals.

“Everything is still open,” said Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic.

“Obviously the talent in the Hanoi squad is very strong because they have 10 national team players plus their foreigners. They are the strongest team we have played this year.”

The Busmen felt aggrieved by some controversial decisions in the first leg particularly the handball and offside infractions that were not called in the leadup to the Hanoi goal in Bacolod.

But the Busmen have the lethal combination of Bienve Marañon, who already has a tournament-leading 10 goals in the tournament, and Stephan Schrock to lead the attack. Nigerian Ganiyu Oseni, who has nine goals, has been ruled out for Hanoi in the second leg due to an injury.

“We will see a big fight from our team tomorrow,” vowed Vidakovic.