Azkals key Ceres-LS draw with Koreans

MANILA, Philippines - Ceres-La Salle banked on Azkals Juani Guirado and Patrick Reichelt to hold vaunted Rimyongsu of North Korea to a 2-2 draw last night at the start of the Asian Football Confederation President’s Cup Group B qualifiers at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

Guirado fired a low free kick in the ninth minute while Reichelt struck early in the second half as Ceres stunned the favored North Koreans by taking the initiative in each half, forcing the visitors to play catch up and salvage a point.

“This is a special night for us; getting a 2-2 draw against the strongest team in North Korea,” said Ceres manager Ali Go, whose club wasn’t given much of a chance against the consensus team to beat in the tourney.

“It could have been better but we cannot ask for more. At least, we got a point from this match,” he added.

Ceres hopes to gain confidence from this result as it prepares for its next match against Tatung FC of Chinese-Taipei tomorrow night.

The reigning Phl club champions are seeking to pick up as much points in the four-team qualifiers in a bid to become the first Filipino club to reach the final stage of the tourney. Only two clubs will advance to the six-team finals set later in the year.

Cheered on by a close to 6,000 fans, the Ceres booters rocked the Koreans early on as Guirado unleashed a free kick that rolled under the wall and into the bottom corner.

Though they controlled possession, the North Koreans broke through only in the 36th minute with Kim Kyong-il hitting home from close range following a goalmouth scramble.              – Olmin Leyba

Ceres took just two minutes after the restart to get the upper hand again, with Reichelt letting loose a curling rocket from the edge of the area to the delight of the crowd.

Rimyongsu, however, scored the equalizer midway in the second half with Gwan Jong-il pouncing a mistake by the Ceres defenders off a cross to head it in.