Ceres-Negros FC tramples Svay Rieng FC in AFC Cup opener

Star striker Bienve Marañon wreaked havoc against Svay Rieng in the second half (JanB Dayrit/Ceres-Negros FC

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Philippines Football League (PFL) kings are back in action after a drubbing 4-0 victory against Cambodia’s Svay Rieng FC in their AFC Cup opening game.

With hopes of avenging their AFC Champions League loss, the busmen quickly put in the work and wasted no time in front of their home fans.

Takashi Odawara sliced through the Cambodian defense and scored the first goal of the match entering the 13th-minute.

The onslaught did not end for Svay Rieng as Joshua Grommen found the back of the net just two minutes after the opening goal to double the lead.

It was all Ceres in the second half as they overwhelmed the opponent with their high-octane offense led by Bienve Marañon as he scored two straight goals to establish a 4-0 lead.

The Cambodian squad tried to send in one in the 80th minute of the match but the Ceres interior defense deflected the attempt for a clean victory.