By Jonas Terrado
Game on March 12
(Thu Dau Mot City, Vietnam)
7 p.m. — Becamex vs Ceres
Game on March 13
(Panaad Stadium, Bacolod City)
3 p.m. — Kaya vs Home United
Ceres-Negros held off Myanmar’s Shan United, 3-2, Tuesday night to open its AFC Cup campaign on a bright note at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.
OJ Porteria scored two goals while Spanish striker Bievenido Maranon also found the back of the net to help the Busmen secure the maximum three points in their 2019 debut.
Porteria’s second gave the Busmen the needed cushion at 3-1 past the hour mark before preventing Shan United from salvaging a draw in the final minutes.
The victory allowed the domestic league champions to gain the early lead in Group G after Vietnam’s Becamex Binh Duong and Indonesia’s Persija Jakarta battled to a scoreless tie in Jakarta.
Kaya-Iloilo was facing Lao Toyota in Vientiane at presstime to begin its own campaign in Group H.
Porteria’s left-footed shot put Ceres on the board first before Maranon doubled the lead off a penalty kick.
Shan United narrowed the gap in the 57th courtesy of Zan Min Tun but Porteria delivered another left-footed attempt to give Ceres another two-goal advantage.
Dway Ko Chit made it interesting over 10 minutes before stoppage but chances were begging for Shan United, allowing Ceres to emerge victorious.
