Global battles Lion City side in S’pore Cup Final 4 today

UNITED Football League side Global faces tough odds in its quest for history in the Singapore Cup semifinals today at Queenstown Stadium in Singapore.

Its lineup ravaged by injuries and suspensions, Global will be a heavy underdog against Singapore League side Tanjong Pagar in their first-leg meeting.

The second leg is slated Friday at Jalan Besar Stadium with Global seeking to become the first PH side to reach the final after Loyola Meralco bowed out in the last four last year.

Tanjong Pagar claimed Loyola’s scalp in the quarterfinals this year, 4-3, on aggregate, setting up a duel with Global, which moved into the last four after a 5-4 win over DPMM Brunei in two legs last July.

Global manager Dan Palami knows the odds will be stacked against his depleted side, which will miss the influential Carli de Murga due to a serious knee injury and Paul Mulders and Delon Yao due to suspension.

“We will be facing a team that has experience in this kind of competition,” said Palami. “It’s our first time to be in the Singapore Cup, but we have shown we can withstand the pressure. The players are ready for the challenge.”

Global is also facing the threat of not having Rufo Sanchez in the lineup due to a contract dispute with fellow UFL side Stallion, which claims to still have rights on the Spanish striker.

Palami said the club is ready to present the contract of Sanchez if the organizing Football Association of Singapore asks for it.

On loan from Stallion last July, Sanchez proved vital for Global by scoring two of the five goals in the duel against DPMM.

“We will have to really play a really strategic game,” said Palami. “We would have to be more defensive in the first leg and if we’re able to hold them off, then we can go all out [in the second leg] on Friday.”