Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bacolod: Fernando Rodriguez’s goal four minutes into added time saw Ceres Negros pull off a huge upset in the 2017 AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal Semi-finals on Wednesday, as 2015 winner Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia were eliminated on away goals after a 2-1 second leg win for the side from the Philippines.
The visitors brought a slim one-goal advantage into the tie at Pana-ad Park and Football Stadium after a 3-2 win in Johor Bahru a fortnight ago, but Kota Kawase put Ceres into the driving seat on 26 minutes after he finished from six-yards out following Kevin Ingreso’s cross.
Argentine Gabriel Guerra restored parity on the night and put Johor 4-3 ahead on aggregate after he was set-up by his compatriot Gonzalo Cabrera in the 65th minute.
As the clock ticked down, the Malaysians may have thought they had done enough to progress to the ASEAN Zonal final, but in added time Rodriguez was brought down inside the penalty area by Aidil Zafuan, and the Spaniard duly converted the spot-kick.
Worse was to follow for Johor as Farizal Malias received a straight red card for violent conduct shortly after as the former champions bowed out of the tournament.
Ceres will now face the winner of Tuesday’s other Zonal Semi-final, Home United of Singapore, in the two-legged ASEAN Zonal final in August.