CERES-Negros FC survived a huge scare from Myanmar’s Shan United before escaping with a 3-2 victory in the 2019 Asian Football Confederation Cup on Tuesday night at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.
Jose Elmer Porteria fired two goals, while Spanish striker Bienvenido Marañon added another conversion for the Negros Occidental-based football club to gain the early advantage in Group G.
Shan United nearly surged ahead at the 13th minute as Maycon Calijuri found the back of the net but his shot was ruled as an offside. Six minutes later, Ceres-Negros took the 1-0 lead with Porteria converting from seven yards from a feed by Omid Nazari.
Ceres-Negros later doubled the advantage at the 37th minute after Maranon converted on a penalty kick which he got after he was brought down by Shan United’s goalkeeper Phone Thitsar Min.
Shan United was able to trim the deficit to 1-2 at the onset of the second half with Zin Min Tun scoring from the center of the area following a low cross from Hedipo Conceicao.
Since then, both teams have struggled to score until the Ceres-Negros increase the lead to 3-1 at the 87th minute with a neat finish by Porteria after a pass from Stephan Schrock.
Dway Ko Ko Chit struck back instantly for Shan United in the 88th minute to make it 3-2 but the visiting Myanmar failed to score a game-tying goal with the Ceres-Negros tightening its defense.
Ceres-Negros’ next opponents will be Vietnam’s Becamex Binh Duong on March 12 at the Go Dau Stadium in Thu Dau Mot, Vietnam./PN
