After failing to win the last time around on home soil, Ceres-Negros Football Club redeemed themselves in the best possible way.
The pride of Bacolod got its second win of the 2020 AFC Cup, a 4-0 outcome against Indonesia’s Bali United in a closed door game, Wednesday at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The Busmen had to work hard to break through the away side’s defensive play and it finally did so at the 35th minute of the contest. Talismanic skipper Stephan Schrock saw his attempt initially parried away by Bali goalkeeper Nadeo Winata, but OJ Porteria was there to rebound it into the back of the net.
Schrock was influential in the contest with a hand in the home side’s next two goals, which were scored by striker Bienvenido Marañon. The Filipino-German star won the penalty, which Marañon then converted in the 54th minute.
“We feel so happy. So happy because we get the three points. We deserved to win this game. We played really good. In the beginning, it was really difficult we are not used to playing this humid. It’s too hot here, but after 25 minutes we controlled the game and we deserved the win,” said Marañon.
Both players then combined in the 69th minute when the Spanish star headed in Schrock’s corner into goal. Robert Lopez Mendy then rounded up the scorers with a good finish in the 73rd minute.
“It’s always very hard to play when the opponent is defending so deep. The first goal was important to open it,” said Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic. “We just kept the same plan. We kept moving the ball from side to side, keep the possession, trying to penetrate them from sides.”
The result puts Ceres on top of Group G with 7 points, with Vietnam’s Than Quảng Ninh behind them with 4 points. On the other hand, Bali United is last in the group with 3 points.
The two teams shall lock horns once again on April 14, 2020, 7:30 PM, at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium in Bali, Indonesia.
Ceres-Negros XI: Muller (GK), Kane, Super, Maranon, Ott, Odawara, Porteria, Schrock ©, Villanueva, Minegishi, Lopez Mendy.
Bali United XI: Nadeo (GK), Nouri, Lerby, Fadil, Gavin Kwan, F Al Ayyubi, Ricky Fajrin, L Tupamahu, W Pacheco, Lilipaly ©, Rahmat.
