Global FC blanks Tampines in AFC Champions League qualifiers

A historic night for Global FC got a dream ending Tuesday night as the reigning United Football League champions blanked Singaporean side Tampines Rovers, 2-0, to reach the second preliminary stage of the AFC Champions League.

Goals from new signing Ahamd Azzawi and skipper Misagh Bahadoran sent Global to the next round where it will face Australian side Brisbane Roar on January 31.

A Japanese-Iraqi who spent the past few seasons in the lower leagues in Australia, Azzawi scored off a Bahadoran assist in the 61st minute, staying composed inside the box before firing past Tampines keeper Izwan Mahbud.

Azzawi turned provider for Bahadoran in the 73rd minute when the Global skipper found space outside the box to rifle home a deflected shot into the bottom corner.

Global goalkeeper Patrick Deyto also had a solid outing, palming away a late penalty from Khairul Amri in the 90th minute to preserve the clean sheet.

The win puts Global within two victories of reaching the main draw of the most prestigious club competition in Asia. An upset against Brisbane Roar, a team beefed up by Australian national team star Tommy Oar and coached by former Socceroo John Aloisi, will set the stage for a playoff against Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua.