FILE – Omid Nazari celebrates his goal for Global against Nagaworld in the Singapore Cup. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
PACESETTERS Global and Ceres-La Salle warmed up for crucial Singapore Cup matches with easy victories last Saturday to keep their 1-2 positions in the United Football League at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
A brace from Fil-Iranian midfielder Omid Nazari propelled Global past a stubborn Forza side, 2-0, before Stephan Schrock’s hat trick lifted Ceres to a 4-1 triumph over Stallion.
With the victory, Global stayed three points clear of Ceres at the top with 21 points, while Kaya, which shut out Pasargad, 6-0, earlier climbed to third spot with 15 points.
Global and Ceres fly to Singapore Tuesday for the quarterfinals of the Singapore Cup, where they will clash with Tampines Rovers and DPMM Brunei, respectively.
Both quarterfinal ties are two-leg affairs with the winner determined by aggregate scores. The two UFL teams will actually collide in the semifinals if they hurdle their last-eight foes.
Senegalese striker Robert Lopez Mendy increased his tally to 11 goals this season after a hat trick against Pasargad, while Miguel Tanton, Shirmar Felongco and Woody Ugarte also found the back of the net for Kaya.
Facing a Forza side that has yet to win in six matches so far, Global took the lead in the sixth minute when Nazari struck from inside the box.
It took Global until the 74th minute to claim an insurance goal, this time Nazari firing home from close range.
Named Man of the Match, Schrock was back to his devastating best with a goal in the 28th minute and two more in the second half to wrap up Ceres’ sixth straight victory.