MANILA — Ceres Negros fell short of making history as the reigning Philippines Football League (PFL) champion bowed to Tianjin, 2-0, in the final round of the AFC Champions League qualifiers in China on Tuesday.
Despite showing heart all match-long, Negros saw Tianjin as a tough competition as the latter moves on to the Champions League group stages while sending the former to the AFC Cup.
Anthony Modeste struck first for the home side in the 19th minute as he sent a header past Toni Doblas off a corner.
Modeste then sealed it with 57th minute strike for the brace.
Negros will join Burmese side Shan, which the club beat in the first round of the qualifiers, Singaporean team Home, and the winner of the playoff between Cambodia’s Boeung Ket and Laos’ Lao Toyota in Group F of the AFC Cup group stages.
Tianjin, on the other hand, will join Hong Kong squad Kitchee and Korean squad Jeonbuk in Group F of the Champions League.