With Boeung Ket and Shan United outdistanced by Ceres Negros and Home United in their four-team Group F, the clash between the back markers at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon on Wednesday evening (at 5pm Cambodian time) in the AFC Cup is all for pride.

Boeung Ket and Shan both have three points after a win each, but better goal difference sees United sit in third.

Singapore’s Home United can progress automatically to the knockout stage as group winners with an away victory over Philippine outfit Ceres Negros. A win would see the sides level on points and the Singapore champions would go through on head-to-head results after their 1-1 home draw in February.

Myanmar champions Shan United recorded a 2-1 come-from-behind victory in the first leg over Boeung Ket at Olympic Stadium on February 27.

But in early March at home, the Cambodian league champs briefly showed signs of clawing their way into a possible fight for promotion to the knockout stage after a thrilling 3-2 win over Home United.

Since then, however, they have gone down tamely to Home United away and Ceres Negros at home, conceding 10 goals in those two games.

Before leaving for this final group encounter, Boeung Ket recorded a morale-boosting 2-0 win over rivals Ministry of National Defense, and they are jointly top of the table with NagaWorld.