Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Singapore: The 2018 ASEAN Zone Final is tantalisingly poised with the aggregate score locked at 1-1 as Wednesday's decisive second leg clash between Singapore's Home United and Filipino club Ceres Negros is set to be one to savour.
Blake Powell's penalty gave Philippines champions Ceres Negros an early advantage in the first leg in Bacolod, only for Isaka Cernak to level for Home United to ensure the Singaporeans took a vital away goal advantage back to the Lion City.
With Ceres having come out on top against Home United in the 2017 ASEAN Zone final, will the zonal champions retain their crown or will we have new Southeast Asian club kings?
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Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Singapore: The chance to win the 2018 AFC Cup ASEAN Zone Final in front of friends and family is a big motivating factor says Home United's Abdil Qaiyyim, ahead of the crucial second leg tie against Ceres Negros on Wednesday.
Runners-up to Ceres in the AFC Cup's ASEAN Zone in 2017, Home United are determined to put things right this time around. The Singaporeans go into the Southeast Asian decider 1-1 on aggregate after the first leg in Bacolod having secured a potentially crucial away goal.
The-AFC.com caught up with Singapore international defender Abdil, who also played in the 2017 ASEAN Zonal final, to get his views on the upcoming clash.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bacolod: Ceres Negros midfielder OJ Porteria believes that the Philippines champions will rise to the occasion when they face Singapore's Home United in the decisive second leg of the AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal Final at Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday.
A 1-1 draw with Singapore's Home United in the Philippines was not the ideal result for defending ASEAN Zonal champions Ceres Negros, but confidence remains high having come from behind in last year's same fixture to be crowned Southeast Asia's inaugural zonal winners.
The-AFC.com caught up with Philippines international Porteria, who scored in the 2017 ASEAN Zonal final, to get his views on the upcoming clash.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bacolod: Home United goalscorer Isaka Cernak praised his team for a professional performance after a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal Final at Panaad Park and Stadium on Wednesday.
Australian midfielder Cernak had a Home United debut to remember in Bacolod as the A-League veteran netted the equaliser and vital away goal for the Singaporean side.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bacolod: It was a night of highs and lows for Blake Powell on his Ceres Negros debut. The Australian opened the scoring in the first leg of the AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal Final, only to see parity restored and Home United secure a vital away goal on Wednesday.
Always a tough ask for a debutant to lead the attack for his team, especially so when the man he replaced - the suspended Bienvenido Marañón - is the 2018 AFC Cup leading scorer, but 27-year-old Powell got off to a flying start when he converted from the spot on eight minutes.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bacolod: Blake Powell’s early penalty was cancelled out by an Isaka Cernak header as Ceres Negros and Home United played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the 2018 AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal Final on Wednesday.
After a bright opening by Ceres, Patrick Reichelt played in striker Powell, who was handed a penalty in the ninth minute after being taken down in the box by Shakir Hamzah.
The Australian made no mistake from the spot as he slotted the ball past Home United goalkeeper Rudy Khairullah to give the home side an early lead and send the Panaad Stadium crowd into raptures.
But just as Mike Ott went close to doubling Ceres’ lead shortly after, Home United‘s immediate counter attack led to the equaliser and a crucial away goal on 23 minutes.
Izzdin Shafiq’s in-swinging corner found Shahril Ishak, who managed to escape his marker at the near post to head over Toni Doblas with the ball rebounding off the woodwork, with Cernak the fastest to react as he headed in to level proceedings.
The end-to-end nature of the first half continued right up until the whistle when Manuel Ott’s indirect free-kick in the first minute of stoppage time sailed over Khairullah in goal as both sides remained deadlocked going into the break.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kuala Lumpur: The 2018 AFC Cup recommences on August 1 with the much-anticipated ASEAN Zonal Final between Ceres Negros and Home United. We turn to two Southeast Asian football specialists to preview the tie.
Familiar foes Ceres Negros and Home United will clash in the 2018 AFC Cup's ASEAN Zonal Final on August 1 and August 8 when the 2017 ASEAN Zonal finalists meet once more in this year's edition. Filipino club Ceres also faced Singaporean side Home in this year's Group Stage, with the latter edging them out on head-to-head record to top Group F.
The-AFC.com spoke to two experts ahead of the vital tie to get their views.
Singaporean Gabriel Tan (@gabetan13) is the football editor at FOX Sports Asia, while Cedelf Tupas (@CedelfptINQ) is a Philippines Football Expert and Journalist for Philippine Daily Inquirer.