Ceres edge over Rovers at home expected

By Henry G. Double

CERES Negros FC, after drawing with Ha Noi FC one-all, is now focusing on taking their game a level higher as they face Singapore’s Tampines Rovers on March 7 at the Paanad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City. Ceres FC edged Rovers, 2-1 in their face-off at the Panaad Stadium last year, but the Singapore side currently leads the group after its 2-1 victory over Felda of Malaysia and their morale is high, looking forward for another strong game. The Negros Occidental-based club draw with Ha Noi FC Tuesday night in the AFC Cup Group G opener at the My Dinh National Stadium defying the 2,600-crowd in Vietnam. The Risto Vidakovic-mentored Busmen came out prepared forcing the host to a scoreless draw in the first 45 minutes of the game. Bienvenido Marañon finally broke the deadlock with a 49th minute goal as the adopted son of Negros province scored on a rebound play after Hanoi goalkeeper Phi Minh Long blocked Manuel Herrera's header. Ha Noi didn’t disappoint their fans as Nguyen Van Quyet equalized in the 57th minute with an acrobatic scissor-kick past Ceres FC keeper Rolando Muller. Ha Noi took control of the entire game with a 68-32 percent ball possession, but Ceres Negros held on with an 18-13 on ball interceptions. Starters for the Ceres FC were keeper Muller, defenders Manuel Lopez, Carli de Murga, Jeffrey Christiaens and Junior Munoz; midfielders Marañon, Kevin Ingreso, Iain Ramsay, and Martin Pineda Steuble; and forwards Manuel Ott and Fernando Ortega. Meanwhile, the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) has been working double time to ensure that the staging of the home games will be in place particularly the security management at the stadium. The LOC is expected to announce the availability of the tickets next week as Negrense fans have long been waiting for another home match for the Ceres Negros FC which can gather nearly 10,000 fans at the Panaad Park and Stadium.

Read more: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/sports/2017/02/24/ceres-edge-over-rovers-home-expected-527584