By JONAS TERRADO
Game Tuesday
(Bangkok, Thailand)
8 p.m. – Port FC vs Ceres
Ceres-Negros secured a place in the second round of the AFC Champions League preliminaries after defeating Myanmar’s Shan United, 3-2, Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Senegalese striker Robert Lopez Mendy and Spaniard Bienvenido Maranon gave the Busmen a 2-0 lead in the first half before OJ Porteria scored an insurance goal late to hold off the Myanmar domestic league champions.
The Philippines Football League and Copa Paulino Alcantara winners will face Thailand’s Port FC next week in Bangkok with the winner advancing to the playoff round opposite Japan’s Tokyo FC.
It was Ceres’ sixth win in as many matches against Shan United in all continental competitions.
Lopez Mendy put the Busmen in front five minutes after the opening whistle, scoring off a cross by Pika Minegishi into the middle of the box.
Maranon, who scored 40 goals in all competitions last year, doubled the lead before halftime with help from a Porteria cross in the 41st for Ceres.
Shan United pulled one back in the 73rd as Zin Min Tun struck a diving header, but Porteria responded six minutes later by finishing Mike Ott’s deflected attempt for a 3-1 Ceres lead.
Djedje Maximin Djawa made things a bit interesting for Shan United with a goal three minutes before stoppage time but Ceres was able to hold on for the victory.
