Global rips Socceroo; Pasargad sinks Navy
THERE was no shortage of firepower for Global as it crushed Socceroo, 11-0, Sunday night to move on the verge of clinching a quarterfinal slot in the UFL Cup at Nomads Sports Club field.
Global missed eight players who are on national team duty in the Middle East, but the remaining members in the side rose to the challenge to boost the reigning league champions to their second victory.
Sudanese striker Izzo El-Habbib and Cameroonian Alex Obiang combined for seven goals, while substitute Fidelis Nnabuife accounted for two in a scintillating show of firepower against the second-division side.
Jerry Barbaso and Romeu Rodrigues also found the back of the net as Global moved to the top of Group A with seven points, ahead on goal difference over General Trias.
In another Group A match, Pasargad blanked Navy, 3-0, to stay in the fight for a place in the knockout stage.
Meanwhile, Army climbed to the top of Group B with a 2-0 dumping of Agila. John Cain and Ricardo Becite scored late goals as Army followed up its 2-0 conquest of Stallion.
With German winger Kevin Capolei tormenting defenders on the right flank and Yu Hoshide pulling the strings in the middle, Global had no problem creating scoring chances.
And when it did, El-Habbib did not disappoint, taking his tally to five goals in the UFL Cup, after missing a host of chances in the scoreless draw against General Trias.
El-Habbib completed his hat-trick in the 38th minute with a header off a free kick from Hoshide, giving Global a 6-0 lead at the break.
Barbaso struck on the counter attack in the 78th minute, before Nnabuife and Obiang completed the rout late on.
