Ceres-Negros FC drawn in Group G

By Paulo Loreto Lim

The group stage draw for the 2019 AFC Cup was conducted yesterday in Kuala Lumpur, where Philippines Football League champions Ceres-Negros FC were drawn in Group G. However, as current champions, the Negrense club again qualified for the AFC Champions League qualifying playoffs, where they will meet Myanmar National League champions Yangon United FC in the first round on February 5.

The two clubs met earlier this year in the 2018 AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal semifinals, where the Bacolod City-based club won on aggregate.

Last year, Ceres FC was one round away from making the 2018 AFC Champions League group stage after defeating Shan United FC of Myanmar and A-League club Brisbane Roar, but they eventually lost to Tianjin Quanjian FC of China.

In Group G, the Negrense club is drawn alongside Shan United FC, who finished second in the 2018 Myanmar National League; Becamex Bình Dương FC of Vietnam’s V.League 1, and the pending champion of Indonesia’s ongoing Liga 1 competition.

During last year’s competitions, among their meetings in the AFC Champions League qualifying playoffs and the AFC Cup group stage, Ceres-Negros FC beat Shan United FC in all three of their matches.

Meanwhile, Kaya FC-Iloilo was drawn into Group H alongside Singapore’s Home United FC, Lao Toyota FC, and the pending second place club in Indonesia’s ongoing Liga 1 competition./PLL, WDJ