HÀ NỘI — Ceres Negros of the Philippines crushed Vietnamese champions Hà Nội FC 6-2 in a Group G match of the 2017 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup at Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City yesterday.

The win means the Philippine side are tied with Hà Nội FC on eight points but top the table on goal difference.

In the two sides first meeting in Hà Nội, the game ended 1-1.

The Vietnamese side played without star Argentinean forward Gonzalo Marronkle, due to injury.

Ceres, buoyed by the home crowd, took the initiative from the beginning of the match.

Spanish striker Bienve Maranon of the hosts netted a penalty to give the home side the lead 13 minutes into the game.

His teammate Kevin Ingreso doubled the advantage in the 21st minute, an advantage the visitors cut in half four minutes later through midfielder Phạm Thành Lương, leaving the score 2-1 at half time.

Eight minutes after the break, Spanish Fernando Rodriguez scored to restore his side’s two goal cushion.

Hà Nội FC were then dealt a blow with Hoàng Vũ Samson sent off in the 62nd minute.

Rodriguez scored again in the 69th minute to compound the Vietnamese side’s misery.

Đỗ Hùng Dũng’s 86th minute penalty offered a flicker of hope for Hà Nội, which was duly snuffed out by late goals from Jason de Jong and Bienvenido Maranon to complete the rout for the Filipino team.

Hà Nội will host Felda United of Myanmar, while Ceres Negros play away to Tampines of Singapore on May 3rd.

The other Vietnamese representative in the AFC Cup, Quảng Ninh Coal, rank bottom of Group H with only one point after three matches and are almost certainly knocked out.

Quảng Ninh will meet Yadanarbon in their last match on May 2 in Myanmar. — VNS