BIENVE Maranon netted twice as Ceres Negros scored a massive upset in the AFC Champions League qualifiers after defeating Australian side Brisbane Roar, 3-2 at the Queensland Sports and Athletic Center in Brisbane.
It looked bleak early on for the Busmen as Massimo Maccarone scored from up close in the 35th minute to put the hosts ahead.
Maranon, however, had other plans as he scored two minutes before halftime after taking advantage of a scramble from a corner.
The Spaniard attacker then completed his brace in the 65th minute, converting off a beautiful through ball from Mike Ott.
Omid Nazari formally put the game away 10 minutes later as he capitalized off a miscue from the Brisbane backline, scoring from up close to give Ceres a 3-1 lead.
Not even a goal from Eric Bautheac in the 86th minute could turn things around for the hosts as time eventually ran out.
"I'm really really happy not just for me but for the whole team. We have done so much the past few years," said Maranon.
The win allowed the Busmen to go through the playoff phase of the qualifiers where the Chinese club Tianjin Quanjian awaits for them next Tuesday.
A win there for Ceres would mean a major breakthrough for Philippine Football as it will make the Negros-based club the first Philippine team to qualify in the biggest continental tournament in Asia.
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