Ceres-Negros FC banked on a strong team performance to overcome Boeung Ket FC 4-0 last April 11 at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh Cambodia. Bienvenido Maranon scored a hat trick while Takumi added a goal for the busmen.
It was a challenging early for the Philippine squad as Boeung Ket sat defensively in the first half. The earliest chance for Ceres came in the 14th minute when Stephan Schrock drove wide to cross into the box towards Maranon. The Spaniard nodded in space but the defense cleared the ball well.
The home squad would have a chance a minute later but Maicon Caliguri’s ball is collected well by Doblas. Patrick Reichelt almost made it to the scoreboard when he redirected the ball into goal but his attempt bounced off the post. Schrock would have a chance minutes later but his rebound went a yard wide.
Manny Ott had a glorious chance in the 32nd minute from inside the box but Sou Yati saved well. Carli De Murga headed the ball to the back of the net but the linesman raised the flag on Maranon for interference.
Ceres would pile on the pressure with twin chances from OJ Porteria and Maranon but both players were off target. They would be eventually rewarded in the 36th when Schrock broke the offside trap before releasing to Maranon who would drill in the opening goal.
The Philippine squad doubled the advantage a minute later when Porteria worked his way into the box and found Maranon who made no mistake from 13 yards. The Cambodian side had its best chance in injury time but miscommunication among forwards meant that the score ends with a 2-0 advantage by the visitors.
Ceres-Negros picked up where they left off when Maranon nodded in a Reichelt cross but the keeper made a fine saved to maintain the scoreline in the 64th minute.
It was only five minutes later when Maranon earned his hat trick after Porteria found a way to lay-off to the Spaniard who made no mistake for the 3-0 lead.
Maranon almost made it four in the 73rd minute but he missed from point blank after a good cross from Christaens. Minutes later, Reichelt outsmarted his defender before issuing a cross to substite Uesato. The Japanese missed the ball but the defender behind him almost scored an own goal that was saved by the keeper.
Uesato didn’t make a mistake in the 84th minute with a solo effort after he rifled in a ball from the edge of the box for the 4-0 lead. Boeung Ket had a good chance a minute later but Julius Oiboh’s attempt from a narrow angle was handled well by Doblas.
Martin Steuble laid off to Maranon a minute later but his attempt was deflected for a corner. Uesato had a good chance from the restart but his header was wide. The Japanase strike tried to lay off to fellow substitute Dods Pasinabo but the left footed shot was way over. Ceres-Negros came off with the win after three minutes of extra time.
“We controlled the game from the beginning from the beginning until the end and I think we deserve the result,” said Ceres Coach Risto Vidakovic. “It was fit 4-0. We missed a lot of chances but I think my players they played a good game game today. Its not easy to work in this weather its very hard,” he added.
The veteran coach was aware of the many missed opportunities but shrugged it off when asked in the post match press conference.
“In football, sometimes you miss sometimes you score. I think its enough for us. Its really important to win here and we did it. We have to now focus on other games. It was important we can play more relaxed in our next game against Home United,” the former La Liga vet added.
The win pushed Ceres-Negros to 13 points followed by Home United with ten. They would only need a draw to top the group with a game in hand against the Singaporeans on April 25.
Photos from Football Federation of Cambodia
