Tag: Risto Vidakovic

Ceres-Negros subdues Shan United, takes top spot in Group G

BACOLOD CITY — OJ Porteria scored twice while Bienvenido Marañon converted a penalty to lift Ceres-Negros to a 3-2 triumph against Shan United in their AFC Cup 2019 opening match on Tuesday night.

The win in front of some 5,700 fans at the Panaad Stadium here gave the Filipino club three points, to take the top spot in Group G after the earlier face-off between Persija Jakarta of Indonesia and Becamex Binh Duong of Vietnam ended in a scoreless draw.

Porteria hit the back of the net 19 minutes into the game. Marañon’s spot kick in the 37th then gave the Busmen a 2-0 lead at half time.


OJ Porteria (right) scores a brace to lead Ceres-Negros’ 3-2 win against Myanmar’s Shan United in their AFC Cup 2019 opening match at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City on Tuesday night (Feb. 26, 2019).
Photo from Ceres-Negros FC Facebook page

The Burmese side fought back with Zin Min Thun’s goal in the 51st minute, and another by Dway Ko Ko Chit in the 88th, only a minute after Porteria scored his second goal.

“We controlled the game very well. We kept the ball, we (had) a lot of chances. The two goals that we conceded were lapses. That’s something we have to improve on in the next game,” said Porteria, who was named “Man of the Match”, during the post-match press conference.

He added that after losing to Myanmar’s Yangon United in the preliminary qualifiers of the AFC Champions League last February 5, the Busmen were raring to bounce back.

“We had a game here three weeks ago that we lost and it really hurt us. Our preparation before this match was to come out hard, play hard to win the game. I’m very proud of the boys for giving their all,” Porteria said.

Ceres-Negros head coach Risto Vidakovic, however, believed the team could have played better.

“We controlled the first half. In the second half, I don’t know what happened, maybe we relaxed. It’s not normal to concede two goals that easily. We have to be more serious. For a team like us, we cannot concede two goals. We have to think about that in the next game,” the Serbian mentor said.

Shan United head coach Min Thu said that despite losing anew to the hosts, he was satisfied with the performance of his team.

“We lost the match but we scored two goals. It was a very good game. I’m satisfied with the perfomance of our players,” he added.     

Shan United will face Ceres-Negros at their home turf at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon on May 1.

On March 12, Ceres-Negros will play against Vietnam’s Becamex Binh Duong at Binh Duong Stadium in Thu Dao Mut City. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1063036

Ceres-Negros to face familiar foe Shan United in AFC Cup opener

BACOLOD CITY — The Philippines’ Ceres-Negros FC will face a familiar foe in Shan United FC of Myanmar in the Group G opening match of the AFC Cup 2019 at the Panaad Stadium here Tuesday night.

The Philippine national league champions are looking to reclaim the ASEAN Zone title after finishing runner-up in 2018, a year after winning the zonal finals for the first time.

Ceres-Negros head coach Risto Vidakovic said the first match against Shan United is important and there is a big pressure on them to win at home.

Ceres-Negros head coach Risto Vidakovic (right) with goalkeeper Roland Muller (2nd from right), and Shan United head coach Min Thu (left) and defender David Htan during the pre-match press conference for the AFC Cup 2019 in Bacolod City on Monday, Feb. 25, 2019.
PNA photo by Nanette L. Guadalquiver

“We have to work hard if we want to win. I hope the players learned something from the last game we played here. They (Shan United) have better preparation than us but we’re playing at home and I think with a big effort, we can do something,” the Serbian mentor said during the pre-match press conference held at Luxur Place on Monday afternoon.

Ceres-Negros had played against the Taunggyi-based club thrice last year. First, in the AFC Champions League preliminary stage where they defeated the Burmese team. Both teams also met in the group stage of the AFC Cup, with the Filipino club dominating the home and away matches.

Goalkeeper Roland Muller said Ceres-Negros is looking forward to a new challenge in this year’s continental club tournament.

“Now, we are focused on the AFC Cup. We prepared good. We had a good camp in Singapore. We will start a new chapter and we are ready,” the Filipino-German stopper said.

Shan United head coach Min Thu said that after facing Ceres-Negros last year, they have prepared well for Tuesday night’s match.

“We know the team. We have the best preparation to face them to get a good result. It’s always difficult to play away games. Anyway, we have good preparation, we will try our best,” he added.

Min Thu said they have a young squad of both local players, and foreign additions. Three Brazilians are suiting up for Shan United in the tournament.

Defender David Htan acknowledged that Ceres-Negros is “a very good team”.

“The game will be a very tough one. We will try our best to face them,” he said. (PNA)

Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1062921