Busmen out to snap string of losses to Vietnam sides

Ceres-Negros seeks to end a run of frustrating results against Vietnamese opposition as the Philippines Football League champion battles Than Quang Ninh in the AFC Cup Tuesday night at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The Busmen saw their run in the competition end last season at the hands of Hanoi FC, which was one of only three clubs that beat the Philippine side last year.Another Vietnamese club, Becamex Binh Duong, also stunned Ceres, 1-0, at Panaad Stadium in their final group match last year, giving theBusmen added motivation as they gun for their second victory in Group G.“It’s a different team, but we all know that the league in Vietnam is very strong compared to the other leagues in Southeast Asia,” said Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic, whose team overpowered Cambodia’s Svey Rieng, 4-0, two weeks ago.

“But we know the importance of this match for our record in the group. And because we have three home matches to start the competition, we want to take maximum points in all of them.”

Vidakovic has some injury concerns ahead of the clash, with Super Herrera ruled out due to a finger injury, while Mike Ott remains sidelined by a knee injury.

OJ Porteria, who has been in fine form for Ceres, assisting on the two goals against Svey Rieng, only returned to training last Saturday after an illness sidelined him for two days last week. INQ