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| Another top Vietnamese side awaits the PFL champs. Ivan Saldajeno (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA—Ceres Negros aims to stretch is winning run in the AFC Cup as it hosts Vietnamese side Than Quang Ninh on Tuesday night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
"We just want to continue where we left," Manny Ott said on Monday during the pre-match press conference at the Century Park Hotel.
Ceres Negros came from a 4-0 blasting of Svay Rieng two weeks ago, and the reigning PFL champion is a heavy favorite to repeat its huge win against Than Quang Ninh considering that the latter loss badly to Bali United, 1-4, also in their Matchday 1 affair.
However, Coach Risto Vidakovic is aware that Than Quang Ninh can pull a stunner on the road considering Ceres Negros' struggles against Vietnamese sides last year.
"[Vietnam has] a good league. They have strong teams in the league, and Than Quang Ninh is one of them. It's not easy for us to keep on winning, and for us, it's very important that we have to work hard every game," Vidakovic said ahead of Ceres Negros' battle against last year's V. League 1 third placer.
Initially scheduled to be held at the Cua Ong Stadium in Quang Ninh, the AFC decided to have it at RMS instead due to the continuous scare of the novel coronavirus, giving Ceres Negros a three-match home stand to start its AFC Cup campaign, and for Ott, it will be a huge advantage to Ceres Negros' morale.
"Playing at home is always a joy, and the home fans will us additional boost," he further said.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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