AFC Challenge League
The win confirmed Manila as Group E winners, advancing to the quarter-finals on seven points while Shan United - on four points - will need Kasuka FC to deny New Taipei City Hang Yuan FC a victory in the later match to qualify for the knockout stage.
Manila and Shan United went into the game knowing that a win would confirm their place in the last eight and with a sense of jeopardy at play, started in a cagey manner.
Baboucarr Touray’s cross for Seikou Ceesay in the eighth minute, which the latter nodded wide for Manila, was the only chance of note in an otherwise tense opening 25 minutes.
The game changed in an instant when Ye Min Thu’s attempt to head clear Edward Ndecky’s cross in the 29th minute saw the ball hit Dylan De Bruycker in the knee and landed in the net for Manila to take the lead in a fortuitous manner.
Before Shan United could recover, Manila struck again two minutes later when De Bruycker played Ceesay through and the Gambian forward put away his chance with ease despite Kyaw Zin Phyo closing in on him.
Group E: Manila Digger FC (PHI) v Shan United FC (MYA)
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Manila were not content to just sit on their lead and continued to put the pressure on Shan United in the second half, Ceesay struck a curler against the bar before Zin Phyo denied Touray’s long range attempt.
Shan United went close to reducing the deficit in the 62nd minute, Rodrigue Nanitelamio rose highest to put his head to Ye Yint Aung’s outswinging corner delivery but guided his header just wide.
Goodwin Prince put the seal on an excellent Manila performance with the third in the 87th minute, leaping high to glance in Zachary Taningco’s cross from the right before adding another in stoppage time.
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