Two late strikes lands Ceres FC atop Group F

By Paulo Loreto Lim

Thanks to two late goals, Ceres-Negros FC, playing before a home crowd at Bacolod City’s Panaad Park and Stadium, defeated Myanmar National League champions Shan United FC last Tuesday, 2-0, in the ongoing 2018 AFC Cup.

The match began in a fairly uneventful manner. Outside of Ceres keeper Toni Doblas saving an attempt by Shan United striker Christopher Chizoba, along with a missed free kick attempt by Ceres forward Omid Nazari and a shot by Ceres midfielder Kevin Ingreso just missing the goal, the 0-0 deadlock remained well into the second half.

In the 79th minute, Ceres midfielder Mike Ott offered a cross, which Shan goalkeeper Thiha Sithu failed to scoop up. As the ball rolled by a couple Shan defenders, Ceres striker Patrick Reichelt managed to get a tap on the ball and put it into the goal for a 1-0 lead.

A couple minutes later, Ott dribbled the ball through a slalom of defenders, ending with a pass to midfielder Bienvenido Marañón, who met the back of the net, doubling the home side’s lead.

Meanwhile, Home United FC of Singapore, whom Ceres was tied with on points atop Group F, lost their match to Cambodian side Boeung Ket Angkor FC, giving the Negrense side the outright lead in the group.

The winner of the group advances to the Zonal semifinals, where Ceres is the defending ASEAN Zone champions.

Ceres faces a rematch with Shan United next week, March 14./PLL, WDJ