Kuala Lumpur: Yangon United head coach Myo Min Tun has praised his team's powers of concentration, which he said led to the Myanmar champions' win over Ceres Negros in a 2019 AFC Champions League Preliminary Stage One win on Tuesday.
Yangon United defeated Philippines champions Ceres Negros at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod to seal a Preliminary Stage Two encounter with Thailand's Chiangrai United in Bangkok on Tuesday.
The Myanmar side started positively and took the lead through Brazilian attacker Vinicius de Oliviera in the 29th minute, with Philippines international Stephan Schröck equalising for Ceres Negro just before the half time whistle was blown.
Yangon United, however, continued to press and substitute Kaung Htet Soe restored their lead in the 59th minute as they held on for the win.
Victory, said Myo, would not have been possible had Yangon United not been fully focused on their task.
“Ceres is a good team to face and it was a difficult match. But my players kept their concentration during the whole match — from the kick-off to the final whistle,” said Myo to the media after the match.
“I want to thank all my players for a great performance."
Yangon United are targeting a place in the group stage of the 2019 AFC Champions League, after their previous appearance in 2016 ended in the Preliminary Round Two, with Thailand's Chonburi FC claiming victory.
The winners of the Chiangrai United-Yangon United tie, however, will first have to navigate past Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the playoff on February 19 for a place in Group F which already has China PR's Guangzhou Evergrande, Daegu FC of Korea Republic and Australia's Melbourne Victory.
Photos: Ceres Negros
Source: the-afc.com