Ceres Negros FC’s bid to advance to the AFC Cup Zonal Semifinals is within reach after a 4-0 win over Boeung Ket Angkor last Wednesday 11 April 2018 at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Spanish forward Bienvenido Marañon fired a hat-trick in the 36th, 38th, and 69th minutes. Takumi Uesato added a late goal in the 84th minute to put the 2017 PFL champions on the cusp of a place in the knockout stages.
“We controlled the game from the beginning from the beginning until the end and we deserve the result,” said Ceres head coach Risto Vidakovic. “My players played a good game game.”
Ceres Negros remained on top of Group F with 13 points with one match left to play against Home United at the Pana-ad Park and Football Stadium in Bacolod, Negros Occidental on 25 April 2018.
In the Group G match at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, Global Cebu FC came back from a two-goal deficit to force a 3-3 draw against Vietnamese side FLC Thanh Hoa.
The result however meant that Global Cebu will miss out on a spot in the knockout stages after Yangon United won their group match against Bali United
“We took a risk and put tall players up front and our only plan was to play long ball,” said Global coach Marjo Allado. “We’re physically stronger than them, so we always have 4 players on top of the penalty box to receive the long balls.”
Global’s final AFC Cup group match is against Bali United on 25 April 2018 at the Capt. I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Bali, Indonesia.
Photo from Football Federation of Cambodia/Ceres Negros FC
