In what was a rematch of last year’s regional big dance, Home United earned a precious away goal in a 1-1 draw against Ceres Negros Football Club at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.
Isaka Cernak’s first-half goal put the Protectors in the driver’s seat in the 2018 AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal Finals at the expense of Risto Vidakovic’s frustrated team.
“We did what we can,” Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic told Cedelf Tupas of Inquirer. “They played defensive and there was no space to play. We wanted to play faster but its not easy. We will have 90 minutes to do it again next week, because I think it will be a similar game. But we will be stronger next week.”
The Busmen enjoyed a dream start when they broke the deadlock after only eight minutes on the clock. Home defender Shakir Hamza brought down Ceres’s Australian forward Blake Powell in the box, which forced Kim Woosung to call for a penalty. Powell then slotted it home with ease.
Powell’s penalty inspired the 2018 Philippines Football League champions to raise their intensity and bring the fight to the away side. Martin Steuble and Mike Ott had their chances, but neither were able to double the home side’s advantage.
Those misses proved costly, as Home leveled the game in the 23rd minute. Striker Shahril Ishak’s header from a set-piece hit the crossbar, which allowed Cernak to tap the ball into the net in what was virtually the Singaporean club’s first attack.
With the contest level at the break, the two clubs pushed harder for that important next goal. Ceres’s patient play paid little dividends, while Home proved more than ready to spring a counter. One such instance saw Ishak try his luck from outside the box, but Ceres goalie Toni Doblas was ready to deny his attempt.
Ceres persevered, but there was simply no spark. Bienvenido Maranon’s suspension and Home’s defending proved to be too disciplined in the evening. Their backline withstood wave after wave of Ceres attacks in front of over 6,000 fans. Even Stephan Schrock’s entry in the second period failed to provide a light at the end of the tunnel for the home side.
“He has the heart for the team,” Vidakovic remarked about Schrock. “He was not prepared to play but we had to change something psychologically.”
The game finished in a stalemate, which helps Home’s case for vengeance. Ceres and Home shall meet again on August 8, 7:30 PM at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore for the second leg of the ASEAN Zonal Finals.
Ceres XI: Doblas, Super, Mi. Ott, Ma. Ott, Porteria, De Murga, Munoz, Powell, Nazari, Steuble, Reichelt.
Home XI: Shakir, Anu, Qaiyyim, Aqhari, Faritz, Izzdin, Faizal, Mulhelmy Suhaimi, Shahril, Rudy K., Isaka Cernak.
