MANILA, Philippines - An undermanned Global FC stunned a star-studded Loyola Meralco side as it hacked out a 2-1 victory to arrange a title showdown with Stallion Penson FC in the United Football League Cup at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium Tuesday night.
Playing minus eight of its stalwarts who were with the Phl Azkals in Cebu early to play Singapore in a friendly set today, Global went to Alex Obiang and Sudanese striker Izzo El Habbib to defuse the Sparks and gain a crack at the crown.
The Stallion booters, on the other hand, struck with two goals in the first extension as they fought back from a goal down to post a 3-1 victory in the other Final Four clash.
Global and Stallion dispute the Cup on Nov. 19, also at the Rizal pitch.
Obiang scored early on the sixth minute before El Habbib, who now have seven goals in the Cup, one behind Pasargad’s Masood Shadideh and two away from Loyola’s Phil Younghusband, made it a 2-0 advantage on the 83rd.
Phil’s brother, James Younghusband, countered with an 86th minute rocket but Global hung on to preserve the lead and the victory.
Global did it even without Juani Guirado, Misagh Bahadoran, Carli de Murga, Demetrius Omphroy, Patrick Reichelt, Jeffrey Christaens, Marwin Angeles and Paolo Pascual, who were with the Azkals in Cebu.
Meanwhile, Reuben Doctora Jr. came through with a brace, one coming on the 77th minute that knotted the count at one and another on the ninth minute of first extension that sealed the victory.
Christian Floriano Pasilan Jr. unleashed a 55th minute rocket that gave the Archers a 1-0 lead. But Doctora unloaded the equalizer on the 71st and Korean Lee Wong Hyung gave the Stallion booters the lead in the first extension.