MANILA – Ceres–Negros Football Club’s Bienvenido Marañón clinched the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup’s all-time leading scorer status after his brace in the team’s 4-0 victory over Bali United Football Club of Indonesia last week.
The Spanish striker became the competition’s all-time net finder with 35 goals, leapfrogging the retired Jordanian Mahmoud Shelbaieh with 34 in a 15-year stint of play with Al Wehdat Sports Club in his country.
Already with 30 goals ahead the 2020 AFC Cup campaign, Marañón wasted no time in picking up where he left off. He scored twice in Ceres’ opening victory over Cambodia’s Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng Football Club.
The Spaniard then continued his streak by striking past the net a penalty versus Vietnam’s Than Quang Ninh Football Club, followed by two goals in the victorious outing against Bali United.
Marañón started his AFC Cup Career with the Busmen in 2016 by scoring two goals. A year later, he registered eight goals for the team. In 2018 – Ceres most successful stint in the tournament so far by reaching the ASEAN Zonal Finals – Marañón found the net 10 times.
Although Ceres–Negros was knocked out in the ASEAN Zonal Semi-Finals last year, another 10-goal haul by Marañón saw him claim the top scorer accolade for the first time.
Marañón, along with Ceres–Negros teammate Robert Lopez Mendy, are currently up for naturalization in order to play for the Philippines national football team./PN
