AFC CUP: Ceres Negros rolls into KO stage as Group G winner

FULL-TIME | Shan United FC (MYA) 0-5 Ceres Negros (PHI)@CeresNegrosFC locks in the top spot in Group G with 1 more match to play after a strong away win against Shan United! #SHNvCER #AFCCup2019 pic.twitter.com/0OeA3VliEt

— #AFCCup (@AFCCup) May 1, 2019

ANGON – A glittering attacking display propelled Ceres Negros to a comprehensive 5-0 victory over Shan United and into the knockout stage of the AFC Cup.

Spanish striker Bienvenido Maranon continued his fiery form with a second hattrick in the group stage as the Busmen rolled past the Myanmar National League side on a rainy Wednesday afternoon at Thuwunna Stadium here.

Carlie De Murga and substitute OJ Porteria also found the back of the net as Ceres kept its perfect record to reach the Asean zonal semifinals as Group G winner.

The last time Ceres entered the knockout phase as group winner, the Busmen went all the way to the inter zone semifinals after claiming the Asean zone title.

Photo from AFC-Cup.com

“I thought we had a brilliant group stage and now it’s time for the players to enjoy this (win),” said Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic. “We have a lot of room to improve, but we have to take it game by game.”

The Busmen made what seemed like a tough group look easy, sweeping past Indonesian champion Persija Jakarta and Shan in both home and away legs and also beating Vietnamese powerhouse Becamex Binh Duong in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ceres has one match left in the group stage against Becamex at Panaad Stadium on May 15.

Relentless from start to finish, the Busmen were actually denied by the frame of the goal three times before Maranon found the breakthrough in the 38th minute. Bosnian striker Maher Karic played in Maranon who fired past Thitsar Min at his near post.

The second goal came five minutes later after Mike Ott was fouled in the area. Maranon converted from the spot as the Busmen went into the break with a comfortable two goal cushion.