Philippines outfit Ceres La Salle progressed into the 2016 Singapore Cup quarterfinals after overcoming Garena Young Lions 3-1 in extra time at Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday night.

Ceres had taken the lead through Stephan Schrock in the first half, but the Young Lions pushed the game into 120 minutes via Joshua Pereira's late equaliser.

However, Ceres were to emerge victorious with captain Kim Sang Min and Schrock scoring in extra time to break the Young Lions' hearts.

After a closely fought first half, Ceres took the lead in the 44th minute. Former German Bundesliga man Schrock rounded Young Lions custodian Zharfan Rohaizad via Manuel Ott's defence-splitting pass before slotting into an empty net.

The United Football League (UFL) side enjoyed a luxury of opportunities to double their advantage in the second half, but were let down by their own profligacy.

They were made to pay the price on 87 minutes. Pereira bundled home from two yards out for a Young Lions equaliser after two earlier efforts had come back off the post.

The local developmental outfit lost a bit of steam in extra time though, with Ceres capitalising to score in quick succession.

First, in the 99th minute, Kim directed a superb header into the net after Patrick Reichelt had flicked on Martin Steuble's free kick. Two minutes later, Schrock headed home his second goal of the night after Zharfan was caught in no man's land to kill off any hopes of a Young Lions' comeback.

Tempers began to flare late on in the game, but Ceres held their nerve to seal a two-legged quarterfinal tie with Brunei DPMM.

Ceres coach Ali Bernard rued the mistake that sent the game to extra time but praised the Garena Young Lions on their performance.

"I was expecting a hard game against the Young Lions," he said. "I've watched clips of them... although they lost many games, they were fighting against some S.League giants. Those were not one-sided games.

"It took just one mistake for them to level the game; the boys were tired but I told them to keep pushing. In the end experience won it for us."

Ceres La Salle: Louie Casas (GK), Carlos Martinez, Jason Sabio (Marwin Angeles 82'), Kim Sang Min (C), Son Yong Chan, Bienvenido Morejon, Manuel Ott (Paul Mulders 69'), Martin Steuble, Jeffrey Christiaens (Jalsor Soriano 73'), Stephan Schrock, Patrick Reichelt

Garena Young Lions: Zharfan Rohaizad (GK), Rusyaidi Salime, Amirul Adli, Shannon Stephen, Zakir Samsudin, Joshua Bernard Pereira, Firdaus Kasman (C), Muhaimin Suhaimi (Taufiq Muqminin 85'), Hami Syahin (Adam Swandi 73'), Fareez Farhan, Hazim Faiz (Zulfadhmi Suzliman 77')

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by Kenneth Tan

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