UNDEFEATED in four matches to date in Group G of the 2019 AFC Cup, Ceres-Negros FC seeks to win its fifth straight and in the process to secure the top spot in the grouping when it plays Shan United FC in Myanmar today.

Set for 5 p.m. (Manila time) at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, Ceres (4-0-0), on the top of the heap with 12 points, goes for victory number five that will hand it direct passage to the next round of the tournament.

The “Busmen” are fresh from a gallant come-from-behind 3-2 win over Persija Jakarta of Indonesia on April 23 that saw midfielder Mike Ott delivering the go-ahead goal late in the contest.

Persija was first on the scoreboard, connecting in the 49th and 57th minute care off midfielders Sandi Sute and Rizki Ramdani Lestaluhu, respectively.

But Ceres remained steadfast in its resolve and slowly chipped away on its deficit.

Substitute Miguel Tanton narrowed the gap at 2-1 with a smooth free kick in the 70th minute.

Team scorer Bienvenido Maranon then pulled Ceres even in the 85th minute when he headed into the net a nifty pass from Stephan Schrock.

Got the momentum it needed, Ceres continued to put pressure on the home team, which it was eventually reward for in stoppage time as Mr. Ott took a pass from Mr. Schrock and swished it past the Persija keeper for what turned out to be the winning goal.

Persija tried to salvage the game after but to no avail.

“We are happy with the win first of all. The team showed that if everybody works hard anything is possible. It’s very nice,” said Mr. Ott in the postmatch interview as he underscored the effort that his team put in as they made their way back into the contest.

Waiting for Ceres in Yangon is home team Shan United (0-0-4), which is already eliminated from the running.

Its latest defeat came at the hands of Becamex Binh Duong of Vietnam, 6-0, on April 16.

Becamex Binh Duong (2-1-1) is second-running in Group G with seven points followed by Persija Jakarta (1-1-2) with four points.

In the AFC Cup, tournament format has the top teams in each of the groupings earning an automatic spot in the Zonal semifinals with the runner-up with the best record also advancing. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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