PHL team Ceres Negros Football Club to defend title against Myanmar at AFC Cup

Reigning Asean Football Confederation (AFC) Cup Zonal semi-final champion Ceres Negros Football Club, representing the Philippines, will defend the title as they face competitor Yangon United Football Club of Myanmar at Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City Wednesday night.

Despite narrowly missing out on the top spot after losing from their last game against Home United of Singapore on April 25, the reigning Philippines Football League champion, finished second in the Group F for the competition’s first leg.

 

Frustrating night in Panaad. We go down against Home United and finish second in the group. We will face Yangon United in the Zonal Semis next month.

A post shared by Ceres-Negros Football Club (@ceresnegrosfc) on

Apr 25, 2018 at 5:29am PDT

This has allowed the Negros Occidental-based team to qualify for the competition’s knockout rounds as the best runner-up from among three groups in South Asia.

Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic, in a pre-match press conference in Bacolod City Tuesday, said they are determined to win the game and earn edge ahead of the second leg

Vidakovic said the most important thing he instilled to his players is to make a big effort and do everything that they can.

“This is going to be a special game. The opponent is a strong team thus, we have to be prepared,” he added.

Ceres’ defender Junior Munoz said the mindset of the team now is to focus on their strength “and play against ourselves.”

Ceres Negros Football Club coach Risto Vidakovic (2nd from right) and Yangon United head coach Myo Min Tun (2nd from left) with one of their respective team players during the pre-match press conference in Bacolod City Tuesday. Photo: Erwin Nicavera

Meanwhile, Yangon United, which qualified for the semis after dominating Group G, is expected to bring tough challenge against the home side.

The team from Myanmar has reached the AFC Cup’s knockout phase twice before, although they duly exited the Round of 16 in both 2013 and 2014 following defeats to Indias’ East Bengal and Indonesia’s Persipura Jayapura, respectively.

“We traveled a long way and we know Ceres is strong. But, we are ready to give our all in this match,” said Yangon United head coach Myo Min Tun. — LA, GMA News