By Jonas Terrado
Game Today
(Yangon, Myanmar)
5 p.m. – Yangon Unitedvs Ceres
(Ceres leads 4-2 on aggregate)
Ceres-Negros looks to secure a place in the ASEAN zonal finals of the AFC Cup this afternoon when it takes on Yangon United in the second leg of their semifinal tie at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon,Myanmar.
The Busmen are determined to protect their 4-2 aggregatelead in the 5 p.m. Manila time match against Yangon and advance in the next phase of the continental competition against either Singapore’s Home United or Indonesia’s Persija Jakarta.
Home United and Persija were playing the second leg of their own semifinal duel last night in Jakarta, with the former coming off a 3-2 win last week in Singapore.
Ceres has the luxury of playing defensive-minded after claiming last week’s opening leg in front of the home fans at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.
Spanish striker Bienvenido Maranon scored twice to raise his goal output to nine in the continental competition.
But the Busmen allowed Yangon to gain a bit of edge after Sekou Sylla scored two in the second half. Either a 2-0 or 3-1 loss by Ceres will put Yangon in the finals on an away-goal advantage.
Midfielders Stephan Schrock, Manny and Mike Ott, defenders Carli de Murga and Manuel “Super” Herrera and goalkeeper Toni Doblas will also be tasked to help keep Ceres’ advantage against the home side.
