NATIONAL team standouts Carli de Murga and Patrick Reichelt struck in the second half to propel UFL champion Global past Nomads, 2-1, and into the quarterfinals of the PFF Smart Club Championship at Rizal Memorial Stadium Sunday night.
Deployed at midfield, De Murga, a key cog in the Azkals’ run to the Suzuki Cup semifinals last month, highlighted a terrific display with a 71st-minute strike, before Reichelt sealed the outcome with a header nine minutes from time.
Global gave new coach Brian Reid a winning start in the country, although the Scottish coach expressed disappointment at the way his side conceded a penalty in stoppage time.
“They are still rusty and need to improve,” said Reid. “No disrespect to Nomads because they put in a good performance and made it difficult for us.”
Global’s win completed the quarterfinal cast of the tournament which Azkals manager Dan Palami’s side won two years ago as a team known as Teknika.
The UFL powerhouse will face Bacolod’s Ceres, which stunned UFL Cup champion Stallion, 1-0, last Sunday at Panaad Stadium.
De Murga made a good run to free himself up inside the box before firing home. Jeff Christiaens fired the cross that Reichelt met for the second goal.
On the backfoot for most of the match, Nomads grabbed a late consolation goal with Bafio Magassa scoring from the penalty spot in stoppage time.
The Global-Ceres clash is scheduled at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Rizal Memorial, before the highly anticipated match between Kaya and Loyola Meralco.
The other matches pit Pachanga against Green Archers Globe on Sunday at 4 p.m. followed by the General Trias International-Pasargad duel.