CERES Negros Football Club (FC) cannot afford to tie against Malaysian Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) FC at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31, for the AFC Asean Zonal semifinals Leg 2 at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.
It’s a do-or-die for the home team to advance to the Asean Zonal finals. Johor won 3-2 back home and only need a draw to move to the next stage. The Busmen must won. If the result is 3-2 in favor of the host, an extension will ensue or a shootout to determine the winner.
Ceres is expected to deliver a superb performance before a jampacked crowd of more or less 9,000 fans at Panaad.
Ceres Negros FC administrator Nicholas Golez said Panaad is special for it gives at 20 to 30 percent of the team’s efforts scoring 11 goals against Singapore and Vietnam.
Golez said he believes the home team can pull a win behind AFC topscorer Bienvenido Marañon.
“We are playing with heart as we represent the province and the Philippines,” he said.
JDT aren’t pushovers being former AFC Cup champions and among the best in the Southeast.
“We have to win and I think we can do very well in Bacolod in front of our supporters,” Marañon said. (HGD)