Muller shines as Ceres forces draw

MANILA, Philippines -  Goalkeeper Roland Muller delivered big time as Ceres Negros FC salvaged a 0-0 draw with Malaysian side Felda United and stayed on top of Group G in the AFC Cup Wednesday night at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod.

Fil-German Muller, who joined the club last year, saved a misfiring Ceres by stopping Argentine Lucas Cano’s penalty kick at the 61st minute, allowing the Busmen to keep a clean slate on a rainy night in front of 8,960 home supporters and earn a point.

The Busmen carded five points after the first half of the home-and-away competition, slightly ahead of Hanoi FC (also with five points) on goal difference (five versus four). Felda secured its second point but remained at the bottom of the table.

The result was a far cry from the team’s massive 5-0 rout of Tampines Rovers last week but the Busmen would gladly take it.

 “Like I said before the game, all the teams are strong in this group and just because we won the last game 5-0 and they (Felda) lost against Tampines we were going to win easily,” said Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic.  “Maybe they (Felda) even deserved to win, but 0-0 is a good result for us tonight.” 

Unlike the previous game where it rained goals on the opponent, Ceres couldn’t find the mark with attempts by Manuel Herrera and Iain Ramsay going off. 

The Fighters, who also fired blanks, got their best chance when Norsharul Idlan was fouled by OJ Porteria inside the box. Cano took the spot kick but Azkals mainstay Muller proved up to the task, guessing correctly and diving to the right to foil it.