Reigning United Foot-ball League champion Ceres La Salle FC lost to Tampines Rovers FC, 1-2, in the first leg of the 2016 RHB Singapore Cup semifinals held at the Jurong West Stadium on Sunday evening. Ceres La Salle struggled against Tampines without top scorers Stephan Schrock, Manny Ott and Kevin Ingresso, who were all serving a one-game suspension. Tampines Rovers took the lead in the early moments of the match after Mustafic Fahrudin found the back of the net in the 12th minute off a free kick. Ceres La Salle reacted with an offensive as Spanish standout Bienvenido Maranon blasted through their rivals’ defense to level the score, 1-1, in the 17th minute. Ceres La Salle and Tampines traded blows toward the remainder of the opening half with no additional goal scored until the midgame intermission.

Source: Manila Times August 22, 2016 16:18 UTC