Bienvenido Maranon stole the show once again for Ceres-Negros Football Club.
The Spanish striker scored all three goals as the Bacolod-based club enjoyed a 3-1 victory over four-time Vietnamese champions Becamex Binh Duong FC at the Go Dau Stadium in Thu Dau Mot, Vietnam.
The result catapulted Ceres top of Group G in the 2019 AFC Cup with 6 points, two points above Indonesia’s Persija Jakarta, which defeated Myanmar’s Shan United earlier today with a 3-1 scoreline on away soil.
Maranon set the tone for his side when he took advantage of a defensive error from the Becamex defense to open the scoring for Ceres at the 26th minute. The home side failed to play to the referee’s whistle andthe 32-year-old was fully alert to capitalize on it.
Becamax, though, did not give up and was eager to tally its first win in the group stage. Brazilian midfielder Wander Luiz gave his team a lifeline at the 72nd minute when he scored past Ceres goalie Roland Muller from close range.
Luiz’s goal was as good as it got for Becamax as Maranon scored twice in just six minutes of play. The Andalusia-native converted a cross from the left flank to give the lead back to the Busmen two minutes after they conceded while he then sealed all three points with a clinical finish at the 78th minute.
Up next for Ceres is a home game against Persija Jakarta on April 3, 2019, 7:30 PM at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.
Becamex Binh Duong XI: Bui Tan Truong (GK), Vo Hoang Quang, Nguyen Anh Tai, Wander Luiz, Le Tan Tai ©, Tong Anh Ty, Victor Mansaray, Veniamin Shumeiko, To Van Vu, Dinh Hoang Max, Rabo Ali.
Ceres XI: Steuble ©, Muller (GK), Silva, De Murga, Herrera, Ott, Ingreso, Maranon, Porteria, Schrock, Silva.
