CERES-NEGROS Football Club (FC) bowed to FC Istiklol, losing 4-0 on Tuesday night, August 22, at the Hisor Central Stadium in Tajikistan.
The Busmen absorbed two goals in each half to give the Central Asia Zone winners leverage heading into the second leg of the Inter-Zone Semifinals of the AFC Cup.
The visitors looked good early in the match, getting possession while trying to unlock the home defense. It wasn’t long before Istiklol took over stamping their dominance in the first half. A low corner fell to naturalized player David Mawutor who skied the first attempt in the 9th minute.
Istiklol would generate half chances before they were awarded a penalty in the 23rd minute.
Kota Kawase was called for a foul in the edge of the box with a challenge on an Istiklol player. Defender Akhtam Nazarov made no mistake from the spot two minutes later for the opening goal.
The Lions were relentless in the next 10 minutes, generating plenty of shots in danger areas, but Ceres took some form of control up to the final minutes of the half.
The final minute saw the Tajikistan club getting their second after Romish Dzhalilov curled in a ball to the far post. Istiklol would finish the half leading 2-0.
The Negros squad started stronger in the second half in an attempt to salvage an away goal.
Ceres worked very hard from the frontline to the midfield but the Istiklol defense together with eventual “Man of the Match” Mawutor equal to every attempt.
Fernando Rodriguez would come in the 65th minute but a missed tackle minutes later allowed Manuchehr Dzhalilov to pick up a loose ball before smashing it in for the 3-0 lead. The Dushanbe-based squad had a chance to make it four, but Carli De Murga cleared the ball away from Mawutor.
Ceres-Negros will need to overturn the advantage at home in the attempt to get through to the next round. They will host Istiklol for the second leg in Bacolod on September 12 at the Panaad Stadium. (with reports from ceresfootbal.com)