Flashback: 2017 ASEAN Zonal Final

Published on: 27 July 2018

With Ceres Negros and Home United set to lock horns once more in the 2018 AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal Final, join the-AFC.com as we recall the first-ever Southeast Asian Zone showdown between the same pair of clubs, just 12 months ago. 

When the 2018 AFC Cup's ASEAN Zonal Final kicks off between Ceres Negros and Home United on August 1, it will be another chapter in what has become a series of intriguing clashes between familiar foes.

In fact, it will be the fifth time the two sides have faced each other in the continental competition since they first clashed almost exactly a year ago in the AFC Cup's inaugural Southeast Asian decider.


Coach Aidil Sharin had guided his Home United team to the top of Group H, ahead of Than Quanh Ninh of Vietnam and Myanmar's Yadanarbon, before the impressive Singaporeans defeated Filipino club Global Cebu in the ASEAN Zonal semi-finals.

Boasting an attack led by prolific Croatian forward Stipe Plazibat, Sharin's side were looking to improve upon the performance of their compatriots Tampines Rovers, who had reached the quarter-finals of the 2016 edition.

Set to face Home United for the right to be named ASEAN's kings were Philippines side Ceres Negros. The Busmen had also topped their group - ahead of Ha Noi FC, Tampines Rovers and FELDA United - and impressively eliminated 2015 winners Johor Darul Ta'zim in the semi-finals.

The stage was set for an exciting first leg meeting in Singapore.

 

Home United began the game well, taking the lead in the 11th minute when Fernando Rodriguez was penalised inside the area and Plazibat coolly slotted home the resulting spot-kick.

Ceres threatened to hit back immediately but saw two goals from Kevin Ingreso and Rodriguez ruled out for offside. The visitors kept pressing for a leveller throughout the first half, though, and found their reward just before the break.

Captain Martin Stueble let fly a speculative 30-yard effort which bounced awkwardly in front of goalkeeper Hassan Sunny and found the back of the net in first half stoppage time.

Sunny made amends when he acrobatically kept out Iain Ramsay's deflected header in the 77th minute. And seven minutes later, the home fans were sent into delirium when Hariss Harun stabbed home at the second attempt at the back post after Faris Ramli found him from a free-kick.

The 2-1 first leg lead set things up intriguingly for the decisive meeting in Bacolod a week later, with extra meaning for the Singaporeans due to the game falling on the city-state's National Day.

“It’s going to be Singapore National Day, so our team will already have a lot of motivation from this even though we’re playing well,” said Home United midfielder Faris Ramli ahead of the second leg.

“Ceres want the title too and they will have a big crowd behind them, but we will try not to think about this. Instead, we will focus on ourselves and what we can do for the team and the country.

“It’s clearly going to be a battle of pride for both teams because we want to win it for our country – especially us, because it’s Singapore National Day.”

Trailing 2-1 from the first leg, Ceres opened the scoring in the second minute at Pana-ad Park and Football Stadium when Iain Ramsay crossed for Porteria to volley home from six yards, before Fernando Rodriguez missed from the spot on 14 minutes after Abdil Qaiyyim handled another Ramsay centre.

The dominant hosts added a second three minutes before the interval when Ott curled a delightful free-kick into the top left corner to put the hosts in the driving seat for the first time in the contest.

Ceres then sat back more after the restart but Home United struggled to create any chances of note and Ott could have added a third with 10 minutes remaining when he fired just wide from 25 yards.

Plazibat struck the top of the woodwork for the visitors soon after as Home United pressed for the goal that would have forced extra-time, but Ceres held out to ensure it was they who were crowned ASEAN Zonal champions

“After the match, the players were crying on the pitch because we left it all out there,” said former 1899 Hoffenheim and Eintracht Frankfurt player Schrock.

“We put in the performance of our life in this final. We deserve to make history for the club, the country and Southeast Asia."

Ceres would progress to the Inter-zone Semi-finals a fortnight later to face FC Istiklol of Tajikistan. Although they would ultimately lose that series of games to the 2015 AFC Cup finalists, Ceres' 2017 campaign was a memorable one indeed.

Will they be able to defend their title in 2018 or will Home United dethrone them to become Southeast Asia's new kings? All will be revealed after the second leg in Singapore on August 8.


Source: the-afc.com

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