Turkmenistan, DPR Korea claim championship slots

The HTTU Football Club from Turkmenistan and Rimyongsu FC from Democratice People’s Republic of Korea advanced into the finals of the Asian Football Confederation President’s Cup 2014 after topping the Group B of the Qualifiers at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.

HTTU beat host Ceres-La Salle Football Club, 2-1, both goals scored during injury time, while Rimyongsu shut out Tatung Company from Chinese Taipei, 5-0.

Ceres-La Salle scored the first goal of the match in the 20th minute after Carli de Murga engaged the goalkeeper on a one-on-one and prevailed.

But HTTU equalized at injury time before halftime (45+2), as Suleyman Muhadov completed a corner’s kick by heading the ball into the net.

The 1-all deadlock remained until the regulation time expired but referee Yousef Thyth Almarsouq from Kuwait ruled for a five-minute added time. Fourth minute in the injury time, Muhadov scored his fifth goal in the tournament as he hammered the ball into the goal after it slipped through Ceres FC keeper’s Michael Casas’ hands.

HTTU head coach Rowshen Meredov said that their goals came late but he never doubted that they will score those goals. He said Ceres is a very good team, very well organized and they played very well.

Ceres FC team manager Ali Go, on the other hand, expressed some misgivings on how the referee officiated as he pointed out several inconsistencies in the call.

He said the injury time went beyond five minutes and the referee failed to call the glaring fouls in the final seconds of the match.

However, he said the team will bounce back from the defeat and move on.

Meanwhile, DPR Korea head coach Jon Man Ho said they are glad to be into the finals of the AFC President’s Cup and they will train hard in preparations for the championship.

He added that the 5-0 goal against Taipei was their insurance to get through the Qualifier as they knew that the 2-1 score between Turkmenistan and Philippines will not be enough if they settle for a draw or score a few goals against Taipei.

Visayan Daily Star

AFC President's Cup : Ceres La Salle 2-2 Rimyongsu

Bacolod City: Ri Kwang-hyok bagged a brace as Rimyongsu twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Group B hosts Ceres La Salle on Tuesday in what was the first appearance of a North Korean club in the AFC President’s Cup.
Cheered on by almost 6000 fans at the Panaad Stadium it was the home side that took the early initiative when Spain-born Philippines international defender Juan Guirado, who is on loan at Ceres from Spanish Tercera Division side CD Burgos, opened the scoring with just ten minutes played.
Ceres held the lead until six minutes before half-time when Ri, a two-time AFC Challenge Cup winner with DPR Korea, netted the equaliser to write his name in the history books as the first player to score for a North Korean club in the AFC President’s Cup.
Four minutes after the restart Ceres, who are coached by South Korean Cha Soung-yooung,  regained the lead through Patrick Reichelt but for the second time in the match Ri was on hand to restore parity, with the 26-year-old forward scoring his and Rimyongsu’s second on the hour mark.

afc.com

NKorea, Taipei ready for AFC battle

The Rimyongsu Club from the People's Republic of Korea and Tatung FC from Chinese – Taipei arrived yesterday at the Bacolod –Silay Airport to complete the four-team cast of the Asian Football Confederation President's Cup 2014 Group B Qualifier at the Panaad Park and Sports Stadium in Bacolod City.

From May 6 to 10, the four teams will battle each other for the top spot in Group B and advance to the finals in September.

All four teams are strong, said David Shan-Juh Chang, secretary-general of Tatung FC, and like the other squads they are expecting to advance into the finals.

While the Chinese-Taipei team is very young, he said several of them are members of national team. Consulting with the head coach of Tatung FC, Chang said they will play with a 4-5-1 format to put more emphasis on defense.

For Jong Sang Hoe, media officer of the Rimyongsu Club, their chances of advancing into the finals will depend on the abilities of their players.

He said it is anybody's game and all the teams have an edge and the chance to win.

Earlier, the HTTU FC from Turkmenistan echoed the same sentiment as coach Rowsen Meredov said it will be tough and interesting tournament.

Coming to Bacolod ahead of the two other international teams, Meredov said they will have time to acclimatize with the environment, although Turkmenistan has an equally warm weather but less humid.

All set for the battle is the host team Ceres-La Salle FC who have been buffing up for the tournament and will be tapping the strength of homegrown talents from Negros, Iloilo and Cebu as well as the Fil-foreign recruits from the national team, the Azkals.

Ceres-La Salle FC head coach Ali Go said they are ready to give each game all that they have for the pride and glory of Negros and the Philippines.

He also appealed to the Negrense community and the neighboring provinces to come to the Panaad on May 6, 8 and 10 to cheer and support for the host team.

In tomorrow's double header, Ceres-La Salle FC will face Rimyongsu (PRK) at 5 p.m., followed by the match between HTTU FC (Tkm) and Tatung Company (Tpe), at 7:30 p.m.

On May 8, Rimyongsu and HTTU will play at 5 p.m. followed by the matchup between Tatung and Ceres – La Salle at 7:30 p.m.

The final day, May 10, will have Ceres against HTTU at 5 p.m. and Tatung against Rimyongsu at 7:30 p.m.*NAB

Visayan Daily Star