Hà Nội draws Filipino Ceres 1-1 at AFC Cup

Hà Nội Football Club was held to a 1-1 draw by Ceres Negros from the Philippines in a Group G match of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup at the Mỹ Đình Stadium yesterday. — Photo bongda.net

Spanish player Bienve Maranon scored the first goal in the 49th minute for Ceres Negros, but Nguyễn Văn Quyết managed to equalise in the 57th minute.

In another group game, Tampines of Singapore beat Felda United of Myanmar 2-1 to lead the group with three points.

The home draw puts Hà Nội in second place.

Vietnamese national football (V.League) champions Hà Nội FC was off to an offensive start thanks to home fan support.

Văn Kiên launched a shot on target 10 minutes into the game after teamwork with captain Marronkle Gonzalo.

The hosts kept up the pressure on the visitors’ defence throughout the first quarter.

Ceres Negros replied with a shot from Spanish Bienve Maranon in the 19th minute, but were blocked by Hà Nội’s Filipino defender Alvaro Silva, before the ball rolled to Hanoian goal keeper Phí Minh Long.

In the 24th minute, young midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải of Hà Nội fired a 30m freekick to the target, but found Ceres Negros’s keeper Roland Muller.

Four minutes later, left winger Nguyễn Văn Dũng missed a clear chance to score the first goal of the match when his header hit the post.

French Arnaud Loris of Hà Nội volleyed the ball from a lob in the 31st minute, but it soared wide.

Hanoian strikers launched more attacks in the last minutes of the first half, but they failed to break the deadlock.

After a goaless draw at half time, striker Spanish Bienve Maranon took a rare opportunity to score the first goal in the 49th minute.

Bienve came in to net the ball from a rebound when his teammate’s powerful header was denied by Hanoian keeper Minh Long.

Shocked by the goal, the hosts pushed their squad to equalise.

Top striker Nguyễn Văn Quyết succeeded in the 57th minute for Hà Nội FC, with a shot in the penalty area to stun Filipino goalie Muller with a powerful volley.

Captain Gonzalo, striker Quang Hải, Văn Kiên and Arnaud had more attempts to score, but their shots either missed the target or were blocked by the keeper.