PHNOM PENH—Ceres-Negros coach Risto Vidakovic believes the AFC Cup is bringing out the best in his squad.
Even without several key players, the Busmen eased past Cambodian champions Boeung Ket, 4-0, Wednesday night at National Olympic Stadium here to virtually clinch a place in the knockout stage of the continental competition.
Spanish star Bienvenido Marañon completed a hat trick while Japanese striker Takumi Uesato came off the bench to add another goal late as the reigning Philippines Football League champions picked up their fourth win to increase their tally to 13 points from five matches.
Although they have yet to seal top spot in Group F with a match against Singapore’s Home United still in their schedule on April 25 at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City, the Busmen look on course to play in the Asean zonal semifinals for the second straight year.
“The AFC Cup always motivates us,” said the Serbian mentor, who missed top defender Super Herrera and midfielder Kevin Ingreso to injuries and Mike Ott to suspension.
The Busmen dominated possession for long stretches, but it wasn’t until the 36th minute when Maranon opened scoring by rifling home a shot to the bottom corner, before scoring again three minutes later off an OJ Porteria assist.
Maranon got his hat trick in the 69th minute with Porteria providing the pass again, before Uesato got on the score sheet in the 84th. The match marked the return of Martin Steuble from a long layoff due to a knee injury.
Home United has 10 points from five matches and can still snatch top spot with a win over Ceres on the final day of the group stage on April 25.
Home and Ceres battled to a 1-1 draw in their initial meeting at Jalan Besar Stadium.
Over at Rizal Memorial Stadium, Global Cebu rallied from two goals down to secure a 3-3 draw with Thanh Hoa of Vietnam.