Ceres-La Salle was denied of a chance to become the first Filipino club to reach the finals of the Singapore Cup after falling 5-3 on aggregate to Tampines Rovers last Wednesday at the Jalan Besar Stadium.
The defending United Football League champions conceded two goals in extra time, allowing Tampines to come away with a 3-2 victory in the second leg of their semifinal duel.
Afiq Yunos put Tampines ahead in the 15th minute of the extension before Saifullah Akbar doubled the aggregate lead seven minutes later to end Ceres’ maiden campaign in Singapore’s annual competition.
Tampines avenged its struggles against Ceres in the AFC Cup earlier this year when it was held to a 1-all draw at the same pitch and lost 2-0 at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.
Ceres, the third Filipino team to make the semis of the Singapore Cup after the Loyola Meralco Sparks and Global, played sans Spanish striker Adrian Gallardo.
Without Gallardo, Ceres dropped to opening leg, 2-1, at the Jurong West Stadium last Sunday.
The Busmen tied the semifinal leg on a Stephan Schrock penalty in the 45th, but Hafiz Sujad restored Tampines’ lead in the 57th.
