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Post by cjeagle on Jan 30, 2018 18:26:04 GMT 8
Clinical Tianjin Quanjian stops Ceres Negros' ACL aspirations The bus turned into pumpkins today in China as Ceres Negros' Cinderella run towards the AFC Champions League proper was put to an quick end by Tianjin Quanjian, as the Chinese side march on to the group stage with a clinical 2-0 win in their East Zone playoff. Defying the jet lag and the visa issues a week after shocking Brisbane Roar down under, Risto Vidakovic's men did not go to the midnight quickly in the city's Olympic Center Stadium by putting up a good fight against Paulo Sousa's side despite arriving there just 12 hours ago. Anthony Modeste's brace send the hosts through to Group E where K-League's Jeonbuk Hyundai, Hong Kong's Kitchee and the winner of the other playoff between Kashiwa Reysol and Muangthong United awaits them. Modeste put the home side ahead in the 19th minute, towering over everyone for a thumping header that left Toni Doblas no chance. The former Cologne forward put the tie to bed with a right-footed shot that was assisted by former Brazilian international Alexandre Pato in the 57th minute. The Busmen had a lot of chances as well, but they cannot find a way past Zhang Lu as the inaugural PFL titlists can set their sights in defending their ASEAN Zone crown in the AFC Cup, where a reunion with Myanmar's Shan United is set in stone in Group F. www.dugout.ph/2018/01/clinical-tianjin-quanjian-stops-ceres.html
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Post by cjeagle on Jan 30, 2018 18:40:31 GMT 8
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Post by cjeagle on Jan 30, 2018 18:44:16 GMT 8
Play-off: Tianjin Quanjian FC 2-0 Ceres Negros FC Tuesday, January 30, 2018 Tianjin: A brace from Frenchman Anthony Modeste saw China’s Tianjin Quanjian secure a 2-0 win over a stubborn Ceres Negros of the Philippines to secure their place in the group stage of the 2018 AFC Champions League. The Filipino club started the brighter at Tianjin Olympic Sports Center Stadium and had the best chance of the early exchanges when Stephan Schrock’s volley was well saved by Zhang Lu. But against the run of play it was the home side who took the lead after 18 minutes. Axel Witsel’s shot from the edge of the box could only be palmed out for a corner, from which Modeste towered above the Ceres defence to smash home a powerful header. All three of Tianjin Quanjian’s international stars were involved in their second, with Witsel’s header in midfield finding Alexandre Pato who expertly cushioned the ball over the top of the Ceres-Negros defence to play in Modeste, who made no mistake with just goalkeeper Toni Doblas to beat. The win for Tianjin Quanjian sees them join Hong Kong’s Kitchee, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of Korea Republic and the winners of Japan’s Kashiwa Reysol and Thailand’s Muangthong United in Group E, with their first match at home to Kitchee in two weeks. www.the-afc.com/competitions...y-off-tianjin-quanjian-fc-2-0-ceres-negros-fc
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Post by cjeagle on Jan 30, 2018 21:25:58 GMT 8
Starting lineup
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Post by cjeagle on Jan 30, 2018 22:15:35 GMT 8
Highlights
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Post by cjeagle on Jan 30, 2018 22:23:12 GMT 8
All the SEA teams(2 Thai,1 Viet, 1 Phil) playing in this stage lost their games today and have been eliminated by East Asian clubs from Japan, Korea and China.
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Post by xyz1000 on Jan 31, 2018 8:38:39 GMT 8
Valiant effort by Ceres. I still congratulate them. Had Shrock's opening attempt found the back of the net, who knows....?
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Post by cjeagle on Jan 31, 2018 11:21:16 GMT 8
Heads Up High for Ceres Negros after AFC Champions League Exit Philippines Football League side Ceres Negros FC bowed out of the AFC Champions League after a 2-0 loss over Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian last Tuesday 30 January 2018 at the Tianjin Olympic Sports Centre Stadium. Two goals from French player Anthony Modeste on either side of the half enabled the Chinese side to advance to the group stage of the Champions League. The Negros side willed their way in the hopes of an upset. Stephan Schlock went close in the 13th minute but his effort was denied. Mike Ott also came close early in the second half, but was unable to convert on the header. “We played against a much stronger team today,” said Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic after the match. “I’m very proud of the players. They responded very well on the pitch.” Ceres’ exit from the AFC Champions League means that they join Global Cebu FC in the group stage of the AFC Cup. Ceres are in Group F while Global are in Group G. “We appreciate what Ceres Negros FC showed in the AFC Champions League play-off round against a much stronger opponent,” said PFF president Mariano Araneta. “We hope their good run continues as both Ceres and Global take part in the AFC Cup.” pff.org.ph/2018/01/30/heads-high-ceres-negros-afc-champions-league-exit/
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Post by pilferpatchy on Jan 31, 2018 19:02:27 GMT 8
ASEAN TEAMS NEED A HELPING HAND AND A SECOND LEG www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/789296/asean-teams-need-a-helping-hand-and-a-second-leg/amp/"Four home games, four home wins, 11 scored and just one conceded. Dramatic these encounters were not. It is not just about drama however but about fairness. It is not fair that these defeats help define the reputation of Southeast Asian football in other parts of the continent. Yet observers are only getting half the story. If there have to be one legged games, then it would even things up a little if Southeast Asian teams were given the home ties. When China, Japan and Korea are the established nations with continental titles and are given home advantage against teams that are still finding their way in Asian club competitions, it just adds to the feeling of the bigger boys getting a helping hand. The best solution is to have two legs. Of course, it adds to the list of fixtures for teams to play. In the eastern side at least, this is not a real problem. Clubs in the region are in pre-season mode anyway. It would just be a case of swapping a friendly for a competitive game. Plenty of clubs in East Asia spend their build-ups in warmer climes and some are already in the ASEAN region holding training camps. A second leg would be another excuse to head to Thailand, Malaysia or Vietnam. It is not just about the games. On Tuesday, we saw teams from a part of the world that doesn’t do winter (despite what people in Malaysia and Vietnam have said recently due to unusually cool weather) and rarely sees temperatures below 20C, having to head north and play in the snow with the mercury well south of freezing. These are not only tough places to go, tough teams to face but tough conditions to play in. The likes of Muangthong and Ceres and all the others should get the chance to enjoy a little home advantage of their own, to get the northerners down into the heat and humidity and give them a pre-season work out they will never forget, roared on by passionate home crowds." -- What do you think of this, guys? It would've been fun to see Witsel and Pato in Panaad.
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Post by cjeagle on Jan 31, 2018 20:47:27 GMT 8
I totally agree. The smaller countries are handicapped enough as it is. They should set fair conditions for both parties in the tie by setting up a home and away format. It would also help the smaller teams financially by drawing bigger crowds in the offseason for the smaller teams.
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Post by cjeagle on Feb 4, 2018 13:40:24 GMT 8
Porteria proud of Busmen’s historic run OJ Porteria and is the rest of Ceres-Negros may have ended their fairy tale run in the AFC Champions League with a defeat to Tianjin, but the midfielder looked back fondly at the experience especially after making Philippine club football history in their first attempt. “I’m very proud of the team, very proud of everyone that’s involved in this club,” said the springy winger after the conclusion of the ACL Play-off with the Chinese squad. “Obviously, its very difficult for us to play these games in high level when you don’t really have a preseason and preparations especially if you happen to be arriving the day of the game.” The busmen showed tremendous quality despite the circumstances that included playing on a frozen conditions against team that pays top dollar to some recognizable stars of world football. Starting the last two games, Porteria saw firsthand the difference in class between the two Champions League teams they faced. “They (Tianjin) had three very high level players with Modeste, Pato, and Witsel. Its clear you can see the high level. Compared to the Brisbane Roar players, these players are just so calm on the ball and the pace that they play of the game is very fast,” said the many-time Philippine International. Thought they missed out on being part of Asia’s elite competition, Porteria was pleased of the historic run especially when the team’s whole-hearted performance against the Chinese giant. “Overall, I think this is great for Philippine football and we can be proud of ourselves and come out of this with our heads held high. It is something that is bigger than we can imagine and people all around Asia can look at us and say that this team is pretty damn good,” he added. The Negros squad now set their sights in the AFC Cup where they will defend their ASEAN zone title starting on February 13 in Panaad. ceresfootball.com/porteria-proud-of-the-teams-historic-run-in-afc-champions-league/
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Post by cjeagle on Feb 4, 2018 13:42:34 GMT 8
Muñoz, Ingreso share experience against Tianjin stars Junior Muñoz and Kevin Ingreso faced one of the biggest challenges in their professional careers last Tuesday when they played against the Tianjin trio of Anthony Modeste, Alexandre Pato, and Axel Witsel in China. The Ceres veterans shared their experience to ceresfootball.com in playing against the biggest group of stars they faced in Asian competition. “We knew they have a strong squad that had high level quality players,” said Ingreso. “We knew it’s gonna be hard for us to compete with them but I think we did our best did very well especially the first half,” added the Ceres midfielder. Ceres-Negros almost scored the opening goal but goalkeeper Zhang Lu made a last ditch save off a Stephan Schrock strike in the first half. The combination of height, speed, and quality on the ball eventually showed in the Tianjin attack which gave problems to the Ceres defense. “It was a different level,” said Muñoz. “First of all, the size alone of Modeste was hard to compete with especially for our average (defensive) height. You can really see that they were making the difference,” the wing-back added. The 1.87m (6’2 ft) Modeste rose above everyone to nod in the opener in the first half before combining with the two other stars later for a clinical finish in the second. Muñoz, who was a starter in the last two matches, saw firsthand the disparity of the teams they faced in the campaign. “There was more connection between the attack of Tianjin between the three foreign players. Building up and going forward, they had more connection than the team prior,” said Muñoz. Ingreso agreed with his teammate on the influence of the three as being the game changers in the tie. “They had a few chances and they scored especially in midfield with Witsel and Modeste in front. They’re very strong and you can see a lot of quality in them,” added Ingreso. Playing top teams with world class players is a rarity for Philippine squads in Asian competition. Muñoz believes that the once-in-a-lifetime match may have given them the right polishing for the challenges ahead. “It was a great experience. It think the match also reminded us on where we can still improve as a team. It doesn’t matter how good the individual can be but rather how good everyone is collectively. We also have a title to defend so we definitely have to work harder compared to last year and work more as a team,” the Filipino international added. ceresfootball.com/munoz-ingreso-share-experience-against-tianjin-stars/
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