MANILA – Ceres Negros aims for another better showing as it battles Yangon United of Myanmar in the second leg of the 2018 AFC Cup ASEAN Zonal semifinals Wednesday night at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar.
Game time is at 5 p.m., Philippine time.
Ceres guns for a follow-up to its 4-2 win over Yangon in the first leg of the competition last Wednesday at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.
For Ceres to secure its second consecutive ASEAN Zonal Finals stint, it must force Yangon United to at least a draw or bar it from a 2-0 victory, owing to its two away goals in the first leg.
Ceres head coach Risto Vidakovic said that, aside from the expected strong response from Yangon, he is wary how his players will adjust to the expected 36 degrees Celsius temperature in Myanmar.
“I am concerned about the weather condition. It is very disadvantageous for us. But we will do our best to win,” said Vidakovic.
“We also adjusted on some of our miscues in the first leg. During the second half Yangon forced a little bit higher, they played us with long balls, which was a bit challenging for Ceres players who are not so tall,” he added.
Spanish striker Bienvenido Marañon, who scored two goals in Ceres’ first-leg victory, said the team promises to give their all under the hot weather.
“We will go there and fight. We have to be prepared more going to the finals,” Marañon said. “Not even the hot weather in Myanmar will stop us from achieving our goals.”/PN
