Bandar Seri Begawan – Jacob Njoku netted two first-half goals as Brunei Super League champions Kasuka FC edged closer to a spot in the Group Stage of the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™ 2025/26 with a 2-1 win over Philippines Football League Finals Series winners DH Cebu FC on Friday.
Njoku gave Kasuka the lead after 17 minutes in the first leg of the Qualifying Round Play-Off at Stadium Negara Hassanal Bolkiah and, after Rico Andes had levelled for the visitors, the Nigerian striker got his second on a swift counter-attack just after the half-hour mark.
Esrom Paulos struck the crossbar for Cebu in the second half and Noah Leddel had a late effort stopped by Wardun Yussof but the Philippines club were unable to find an equaliser, ahead of the second leg in Manila next Friday.
Eliminated by Myanmar’s Shan United FC in last season’s Qualifying Round, Kasuka signalled their intent to go a step further this time around when they took the lead through Njoku early on.
Japanese winger Daisuke Kobayashi made a quick burst on the right flank and sent a low cross into the six-yard box for Njoku to slam the ball home from close range.
Shopee Cup™ debutants Cebu gradually grew in confidence with Andes going close to an equaliser in the 24th minute before the forward made no mistake three minutes later, as he swivelled and fired home with his left foot after the Kasuka defence had struggled to deal with a cross into their box.
However, the home side regained the lead in the 31st minute after catching their opponents on the counter. A Cebu corner was headed clear and picked up just outside the Kasuka box by Pedro Alves, with the Brazilian sending a fine through ball to Njoku, who out-paced defender Kamil Amirul and rounded goalkeeper Jessie Semblante before slotting home.
Semblante kept Cebu in the game by keeping out a Maycom header in first-half stoppage time before turning aside a close-range attempt by Pedro Alves just after the interval.
Cebu had their chances to get back on level terms in the second half with Paulos going close in the 70th minute when his free-kick from 25 yards struck the crossbar.
Deep into stoppage time, Leddel was picked out in the box by Paulos but his first-time effort was kept out by goalkeeper Wardun.
Kasuka and Cebu will meet again in the second leg at Rizal Memorial Stadium on 15 August with the winning team advancing to Group A of the Shopee Cup™.
The second play-off match between Lao League 1 champions Ezra FC and Myanmar National League champions Shan United FC will kick off on Saturday with the first leg at Chonburi Stadium in Thailand and the return game at Thuwanna Stadium in Yangon on 15 August.
Chia sẻ ngay
