BOCAUE, Bulacan—Global earned the distinction as the first Filipino club to play at the new Philippine Sports Stadium.
And the UFL champions did not disappoint by making history with a 4-1 drubbing of Burma (Myanmar) side Yadanarbon Wednesday night to keep their hopes alive of reaching the knockout stage of the AFC Cup.
A brace from Mark Hartmann in the first half and goals from Misagh Bahadoran and Renato Gonzalez sealed Global’s first victory in the continental competition before 2,000 fans at the Iglesia ni Cristo-owned facility.
Playing with spring in their steps, coach Leigh Manson’s charges started the game in blistering form on their way to avenging their 0-2 loss in Mandalay two weeks ago and bring their tally to four points, level with Malaysian side Pahang.
“It’s a little bit overwhelming. Our players deserved all three points,” said Manson. “The new stadium gave us a magnificent platform to get this win. The fans made a difference.”
South China, which Global will face on April 29 in Hong Kong, clinched a place in the next round after a 3-1 home win over Pahang. Regardless of the result against South China, Global can still advance if it gets a convincing win over Pahang at home on May 13.
Global’s enterprising play early on was rewarded when Hartmann buried a goal in the 15th minute, after Yadanarbon skipper Yan Paing handled the ball inside the area.
Paing quickly made amends with a precise strike past Patrick Deyto for the equalizer four minutes later, but Hartmann restored the advantage in the 39th minute with a close-range shot off an indirect free kick.
Frolicking in his new role up front, Bahadoran got a well-deserved goal at the hour mark with a composed finish after dribbling from near the halfline.
Yadanarbon’s hopes of a comeback were snuffed out when Zaw Lin Tun and Tin Win Aung were sent off in the 70th and 75th minutes, before Gonzalez rolled in a free kick seven minutes from time.