Singapore team dethrones Ceres

MANILA, Philippines — Ceres Negros FC ceded its crown in the AFC Cup Asean zone after bowing to finals rival Home United on aggregate, 1-3, Wednesday at Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.

Hard-pressed to salvage the two-game series with a win or a high-scoring draw after a disappointing 1-1 standoff in the first leg, the Busmen couldn’t get in the return leg and crumbled with a 0-2 setback in the return fixture.

Shakir Hamzah (62’) and Song Ui-yong (74’) delivered the lethal blow to Ceres in the victory that avenged the Protectors’ defeat to the Busmen in last year’s finale and also sweetened the Lion City’s national day celebrations Thursday.

“As expected it was a very tough game,” said Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic. “As I said before the game, small details will really decide (the winner). After the (first) goal from a corner kick, we started to play more risky. Obviously it was very dangerous in this kind of field and then they scored the second goal.”