Ceres’ ACL run ends with 2-0 loss to FC Tokyo
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE run of Ceres-Negros FC at the AFC Champions League ended on Tuesday night after losing to FC Tokyo, 2-0, in their qualification playoff match in Japan.
Goals from Sei Muroya and Adailton Da Silva in the second half did it for the host team, ending in the process the Bacolod-based club’s spirited run in the tournament.
The win pushed Tokyo to the main draw of the AFC Champions League, whose group play begins next month.
Played under heavy rain at the Tokyo Stadium, the two teams struggled to get their attack going in the first half, fighting to a nil-nil count at the break.
In the second half, Tokyo broke through early, with Mr. Muroya connecting from 15 yards to hand the 1-0 lead to his team.
Tokyo kept the pressure on Ceres’ defense after but the latter stood its ground.
The hosts got their second goal just before the match hit the 90th minute care of Mr. Adailton, which all but secured the win for them.
Ceres, which played sans captain Stephan Schrock after getting two yellow cards in the previous rounds of the preliminaries, will now play in the AFC Cup where it will open its bid in Group F on Feb. 11.
