MANILA, Philippines -- Global bucked the absence of its coach and some key players to move back to second spot in the United Football League after blanking Nomads, 4-0, on Thursday night at the Emperador Stadium in McKinley Hill.
Global was still clinical despite missing coach Brian Reid and Jason de Jong missing the game due to suspensions and the pair of Jeffrey Christiaens and Carli de Murga to injuries.
Global turned to its 19-year old Turkish sensation Koray Gunduzoglu to deliver the fifth straight loss of Nomads.
Gunduzoglu delivered a brace while Izzo El Habib and Joshua Beloya added one each as Global knock Loyola Meralco Sparks down from the second spot with its ninth win against one draw and a loss.
The Turkish recruit played his finest game since coming over to the Philippines three matches ago with two first half goals -- a header in the 16th minute and an open shot right before the break -- that set the tone for the rout.
Nomads' woes was compounded by the ejection of Nicolas Hacker, who was tagged with two straight yellow cards.
Playing one man down against the powerhouse Global proved to be too much for the struggling Nomads.
El Habib (58th minute) and Beloya (78th minute) scored twenty minutes apart to seal the deal for Global, which now only trails league-leader Stallion-Sta. Lucia by only two points and hold a similar two-point separation against the third running Sparks.
In the other match, Stallion solidified its hold of the top spot with a 5-1 rout of PSG. (read related story here: http://www.philstar.com/sports/2013/04/26/935202/sanchez-delivers-stallion-remains-top)