Ceres nips Shan United anew, nears AFC Cup KO stage

Ceres Negros. Photo from @AFCCup Twitter account.

Philippines Football League champion Ceres Negros overcame Shan United for the second straight week, this time recording a 1-0 away victory at Thuwunna Stadium to inch closer to the knockout phase of the AFC Cup.

The Busmen leaned on an early penalty conversion from Spanish striker Bienve Maranon and needed some stellar goalkeeping from Toni Doblas to preserve the win.

It was the second straight victory for the Busmen against the Myanmar champions following their 2-0 win at Panaad Stadium last March 6.

With the win, Ceres, the reigning ASEAN zone champion, jacked up its tally to 10 points from four matches in Group F, six points ahead of Singapore’s Home United, which is playing Boeung Ket of Cambodia in Singapore.

Only top teams from each of the three Southeast Asian groups as well as the best second placed club will qualify for the zonal semifinals.

The Busmen missed a host of chances in the second half with Manny Ott spurning a big opportunity in the second half after he was set up by Stephan Schrock.

Substitute OJ Porteria was denied by the post late on.

Doblas proved equal to every Shan United attack, saving a couple of one on one opportunities.