Singapore Cup: Global battles Cambodia side

SINGAPORE—United Football League Cup champion Global FC tries to snap the string of losses suffered by Filipino clubs in the international level as it faces Nagaworld of Cambodia in the first round of the RHB Singapore Cup.

With Kaya and Ceres-La Salle bowing out of the AFC Cup early this week, focus will be on Global as it attempts to finally win the tournament this year after a couple of semifinal finishes in two of the last three editions.

Ceres was also invited to the tournament, but the Bacolod side won’t be in action until Sunday when it battles S-League side Garena Young Lions, also at Jalan Besar Stadium.

Global and Ceres are in the same side of the draw, which means they could face off in the semifinals, guaranteeing a first finals stint for a Filipino side in the invitational tournament.

“There’s no added pressure after the AFC Cup losses,” said Global coach Leigh Manson. “We expect to win here.”

But hurdling Nagaworld will be easier said than done for Global, especially with defender Amani Aguinaldo and midfielder Dennis Villanueva serving suspensions for yellow cards in last year’s semifinal loss to Albirex Nigata.