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Ceres Negros leaves it late against JDT, sets up ASEAN Zone final vs Home

Joining forces. Ceres Negros' Kota Kawase and Fernando Rodriguez scored the vital goals to get the club's biggest win in its short history. (AFC/Lagardere)
By Kevin Estrada

MANILA -- Ceres Negros atone for Global Cebu's last-minute heartbreak at the hands of S-League's Home United after taking down 2015 AFC Cup champions Johor Darul Ta'zim at the dying moments of the match to set up a tasty ASEAN Zone final with a 2-1 win in the second leg Wednesday evening.

Backed by a boisterous Panaad crowd in Bacolod, the Busmen needed a stoppage time penalty by Fernando Rodriguez to go through to the next round on away goals to break a 4-4 deadlock.

Kota Kawase netted the match's first when he poked in a Kevin Ingreso free kick in the 26th minute which was cancelled out by Gabriel Guerra in the 65th minute.

Injury time provided the late drama when the Spaniard was tugged down by Aidil Zafuan, forcing referee Fu Ming to point to the 12-yard spot, which was then converted by the forward, who sent Farizal Marlias to his right by hitting the middle of the net, ensuing their progression to the ASEAN final in August.

JDT completely lost the plot and have to end the match with ten men after Malaysia's first choice goalkeeper was sent to the showers in an apparent physical assault against the referee.

Follow him on Twitter: @KevinLEstrada