by Jonas Terrado
Ceres-Negros got an early goal from Bienvenido Maranon before fellow Spaniard Toni Doblas preserved a clean sheet in beating Myanmar’s Shan United, 1-0, Wednesday to remain unbeaten in the AFC Cup at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon.
Maranon’s goal came 15 minutes after the opening whistle off a penalty kick while Doblas made key saves late that prevented Shan United from at least salvaging a tie and secure the Busmen’s third victory in four matches for 10 points and the top spot in Group F.
The win also put Ceres closer toward a spot in the knockout stage of the continental competition with two games left in the group stage. The Busmen face Cambodia’s Boeungket Angkor on April 11 in Phnom Penh before hosting Singapore’s Home United on April 25 at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.
It was the third consecutive time that the Busmen defeated Shan United this year, a streak that began last January when the reigning Philippines Football League champion prevailed in the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League qualifiers.