PHL team Ceres Negros edges Myanmar’s Yangon United at first AFC Cup game

Man of the match Bienvenido Marañon of Ceres Negros Football Club in one of his score goals during their team’s match against Yangon United of Myanmar at Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City Wednesday night. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Almost 5,000 football enthusiasts witnessed how Philippine team Ceres Negros Football Club edged out Yangon United Football Club of Myanmar in Wednesday night’s game at Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.

The team is now one game closer to its bid to defend its title as reigning ASEAN Football Confederation (AFC) Cup Zonal semi-final champion.

Ceres Negros, also the reigning Philippine Football League champion, scored three goals during the first half leaving Yangon United zero. 

Myanmar’s team recovered during the second half, scoring two goals. The home side team, however, further scored in the last part of the match.

The game ended at 4 – 2 in favor of Ceres Negros Football Club.

Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic, in a post-match press conference, admitted that the opponent has dominated the second half especially on the defensive end.

“Yangon forced a little bit higher, they played us with long balls which is a bit challenging for Ceres players who are not so tall,” he said, adding that “I am still happy with the result of the game as our team did their best to win.” 

Man of the match Bienvenido Marañon, who delivered two goals during the first half, said their performance was good during the first half, though they lost control of the game during the second half.

Marañon said though it would be difficult for them to play at 3:30 p.m. on May 16 in Myanmar for their second and last match with Yangon United, the hotter weather there would not prevent them from doing their best to win.

“We will go there and fight,” Marañon said, adding that “we have to be prepared more going to the finals.”

Ceres Negros Football Club finished second in the Group F for the competition’s first led despite narrowly missing out on the top spot after losing from their last game against Home United of Singapore on April 25.

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.

Yangon United, on the other hand, qualified for the semis after dominating Group G. — BAP, GMA News