MANILA, Philippines - Global FC stamped its class early as it dominated Pasargad and rolled to a 3-1 victory in the kickoff of the United Football League Cup at the wet Rizal Memorial pitch last night.
A superb pass by Fil-Iranian Misagh Bahadoran set up a streaking Sudanese striker Izzo El Habbib for a goal that opened up scoring for the Global booters, who were coming off a title victory in the UFL League early this year.
Fil-Spanish Carli de Murga followed suit with his own goal on the 39th minute as the fancied Global side took a 2-0 lead at halftime.
It was more of the same at resumption with the Global booters staying on attack mode with Bahadoran scoring on the 53rd minute that sent the League title-holders to an almost insurmountable 3-0 lead.
But Pasargad made Global pay for relaxing a bit on defense as Masood Shedideh unloaded a spectacular goal minutes after Bahadoran’s rocket that cut Global’s advantage to just two goals.
But that was the closest that they could get as Global simply thwarted every Pasargad attack to seal the win for the early lead in Group A that also includes Navy, General Trias and Team Socceroo.
The victory was also a fitting welcome to newcomers Fil-German Denis Santos Wolf, whose four goals helped the Phl Azkals top the Peace Cup for the country’s first international title in 99 years last weekend.
Wolf, named the Peace Cup MVP and Golden Boot winner, more than filled up the slack left by Fil-Spanish Angel Guirado, who has opted to sign with an Indian club after carrying Global to the League title this year.