By Jonas Terrado
Bienvenido Maranon scored a hat trick to power Ceres Negros to a 3-1 victory over Becamex Binh Duong in the AFC Cup at the Binh Duong Stadium in Thu Dau Mot City, Vietnam.
The Spanish striker produced his last two goals in the 74th and 78th minutes to help the Busmen break a 1-all tie and produce their second straight win and the lead in Group G.
Ceres has six points after two matches, two clear of Indonesia’s Persija Jakarta which posted a 3-1 triumph over Myanmar’s Shan United in Yangon.
Maranon broke the ice in the 26th when he took advantage of a goalkeeping howler by Becamex’s Bui Tan Troung to score an empty net.
It took a while before Becamex draw level when Wander Luiz produced a close-range volley off a free kick in the 72nd.
But the tied score would be shortlived as Maranon came through with the skills that made him one of the competition’s top scorers in recent years.