Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Brisbane: The 2017 PFL Top Scorer believes the Filipino side are reaping the rewards of years of hard work after stunning the A-League club 3-2 in Tuesday's AFC Champions League 2018 Preliminary Round 2 tie.
In one of the great Asian club football upsets of recent times, Ceres Negros - who only started as a club in 2012 - became the first team from the Philipines to reach the final stage of AFC Champions League qualifying after defeating Australia's Brisbane Roar 3-2 at Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre.
the-AFC.com caught up with two-goal hero Bienvenido Marañón to get his reaction on a special night for football in the Southeast Asian nation.
Q: Hello Bienvenido, firstly congratulations on the incredible result against Brisbane Roar: Ceres Negros are the first Filipino side into the AFC Champions League Play-offs! How are you feeling today, and has it sunk in what the team achieved yet?
I feel very happy, personally and for the team, because it's a reflection of the work this club has put in over these last few years. It's a team that keeps growing and has now put Ceres Negros in the forefront of ASEAN football.
It hasn't really sunk in yet what we have achieved. I couldn't even sleep last night after this historic occasion for us and Filipino football.
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Brisbane: Ceres Negros came from behind to beat Brisbane Roar 3-2 at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre on Tuesday to seal a place in the play-off stage of the AFC Champions League 2018 Qualifiers.
In an evenly fought first half, Massimo Maccarone put Brisbane ahead after 35 minutes of play but Ceres' Bienvenido Marañón Morejón equalised just before the break to leave the tie evenly balanced at half-time.
Morejón then doubled the advantage through a 65th minute strike and teammate Omid Nazari made it 3-1 with 15 minutes left.
Brisbane, however, pulled one back after Éric Bauthéac's strike found the net in the 86th minute beating Ceres goalkeeper Toni Doblas.
But it was too little too late for The Roar as Ceres held their nerve until the final whistle to set up a meeting with Tianjin Quanjian on January 30.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dhaka: TC Sports Club edged Saif Sporting Club Limited 1-0 in their AFC Cup South Zone preliminary stage tie at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Tuesday.
Anatolli Vlasichev's strike in the 26th minute gave TC a 1-0 lead at half-time.
Saif could not, however, find a way back after the break as the Dhivehi Premier League outfit from the Maldives picked up a narrow win and a potentially crucial away goal.
The return leg will be played on January 30 in Male.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Chiang Rai: Chiangrai United defeated Bali United 2-1 in an AFC Champions League qualifying tie that burst into life in extra time on Tuesday.
After a scoreless 90 minutes, Akarawin Sawasdee put Chiangrai ahead four minutes into extra time.
Pathompol Charoenrattanapirom doubled the home team's lead at the Singha Stadium in the 105th minute.
Bali United gave themselves hope of a comeback when Ilija Spasojevic pulled one back in the 116th minute but Chiangrai held on to seal a place in the play-offs.
They face 2017 AFC Champions League semi-finalists Shanghai SIPG in the play-offs at the Shanghai Stadium on January 30.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bangkok: Muanthong United of Thailand sealed a place in the play-off stage of the AFC Champions League 2018 after registering a comprehensive 5-2 win over Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim on Tuesday.
Muanthong had needed a penalty shootout to see off Johor Darul Ta'zim the last time they met in the preliminary stage in 2016 but no such drama was required this time around.
Muangthong enjoyed a dream start, with Sarach Yooyen giving them the lead after just seven minutes at the Supachalasai National Stadium in Bangkok.
It was to get better for the Thai side and worse for the Malaysian champions as the home team doubled their lead 14 minutes later through Tristan Do.
Any hope Johor Darul Tazim, the 2015 AFC Cup champions, had of a comeback were dashed when Muanthong were awarded a penalty in the 29th minute.
Heberty Fernandes de Andrade converted and with a healthy lead in the bag, Muangthong took their foot off the pedal for the remainder of the first half.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Hong Kong: FLC Thanh Hoa survived a late Eastern SC fightback to win 4-2 at the Mongkok Stadium on Tuesday as Hoang Dinh Tung's second half hat-trick earned Marian Mihail’s men a place in the play-off stage of the AFC Champions League 2018 on Tuesday.
Vietnam side Tanh Hoa, who finished runners-up in their domestic V.League 1 last season, were trailing 1-0 after Michel Lugo fired Eastern into the lead after 25 minutes of play.
It was not before long Pape Omar Faye evened proceedings from the penalty spot, slotting home six minutes later.
After the break, it was the Hoang show as the hitman fired quickfire goals in the 59th and 60th minutes but Eastern scored from the spot through Manuel Bleda Rodriguez in the 64th minute to make it 3-2.
Hoang claimed his third and Thanh Hoa's fourth in stoppage time as the Vietnamese side advanced into the next round for a showdown with Suwon Samsung Bluewings on January 30 in Seoul.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
As we edge closer to the 2018 AFC Champions League play-offs, the-AFC.com looks back at the three biggest upsets from this stage in the history of the competition.
2016: Al Jazira 2-2 Al Sadd (Al Jazira won 5-4 on penalties)
In the 2016 AFC Champions League play-offs, the mere presence of Spanish legend Xavi Hernandez made 2011 champions Al Sadd heavy favourites going into their decisive encounter against hosts Al Jazira in Abu Dhabi.
With Al Jazira also suffering from a bad patch of domestic form prior to their continental fixture, few would have bet on them to progress. However, in the hugely entertaining match that ensued, it was the home side who would surprisingly have the last laugh.
Despite falling behind to Hamza Al Sanhaji's 23rd minute strike, a Kenwyne Jones header and an Ali Mabkhout free-kick gave Al Jazira the lead. Al Sanhaji then returned to net a late equaliser before Khalfan Ibrahim missed a stoppage time penalty that would have seen Al Sadd through.
The game headed to a penalty shootout, where Xavi blasted his spot kick high and Al Jazira’s Ali Khaseif saved from Morteza Pouraliganji to secure a thrilling triumph for the hosts.
2015: Central Coast Mariners 1-3 Guangzhou R&F