Footballers from Ceres Negros FC will host Myanmar National League Champions Shan United FC on January 14, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. at the Rizal Memorial Stadium for the 2020 AFC Champions League Preliminary Stage 1.
The reigning Philippine champions will play their third game in the tournament since it qualified in 2018 and the second time for Shan United. It was recalled that the Philippine club defeated Shan United in their initial face-off 2 years ago, 1-1 (4-3) in a penalty at the latter’s home pitch at Taunggyi Stadium.
It was recalled that both teams also saw action in last year’s AFC Cup where they played in Group G of the tournament. The Philippine club, however, dominated Shan United during that home and away matches. Ceres FC demolished the Myanmar side at Taunggyi Stadium in a convincing 5-nil victory while escaped Shan United at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City, 3-2.
Once they get the win in the preliminary stage, the team will challenge Thailand FA Cup Champions Port FC in Bangkok on January 21. The winner of this match will then advance to the play-off round against J. League’s FC Tokyo on January 28 with the victors earning a spot in Group F alongside South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai, China’s Shanghai Shenhua, and Australia’s Perth Glory.
Ceres FC made an emphatic performance in the 2018 ACL after defeating Brisbane Roar of Australia, 3-2 in the Preliminary Stage 2 before falling to China’s Tianjin Quanjian, 2-nil in the playoff round. However, in last year’s edition of ACL, the Philippine club was eliminated in the preliminary stage by Yangon United of Myanmar, 2-1 at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City.
On the other hand, Shan United FC did not qualify in last year’s ACL.IMT
