Hanoi gives Ceres-Negros the boot

HANOI—Ceres-Negros came within a whisker of a spectacular comeback as it crashed out of the AFC Cup on Tuesday night here.

Alvaro Silva’s goal-bound effort right at the death was blocked by a desperate Hanoi defense, allowing the Vietnamese champions to escape with a 3-2 win on aggregate in the Asean zone semifinal at Hang Day Stadium here.

Substitute Curt Dizon had given the Busmen a glimmer of hope with his 85th minute strike set up by Stephan Schrock and the Filipino champions pushed more men forward in search of a second away goal that would have sent them to the final for a third straight year.

But the Busmen ultimately paid the price for conceding twice in the second half.

“I think we lost to a better team,” said Ceres-Negros coach Risto Vidakovic.