Thursday, December 5, 2013
DESPITE playing without some of its key players and playing under the blistering
heat on a pitch that has seen better days, Global FC outclassed home
team Cebu Queen City United
(CQCU), 6-2, yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center in the second round
of eliminations of the Philippine Football Federation Smart Cup.
heat on a pitch that has seen better days, Global FC outclassed home
team Cebu Queen City United
(CQCU), 6-2, yesterday at the Cebu City Sports Center in the second round
of eliminations of the Philippine Football Federation Smart Cup.
“The field wasn’t in its best condition maybe because of the earthquake
and the typhoon. But we are grateful to be here though. We had great support
here,”said Global coach Brian Reid.
and the typhoon. But we are grateful to be here though. We had great support
here,”said Global coach Brian Reid.
Reid and Global played in Cebu during the AFC Presidents Cup qualifiers
last summer.
last summer.
“The heat here was quite fierce and made it more difficult for both teams.
However, we won the game pretty comfortably despite the difficult
conditions,” he said.
However, we won the game pretty comfortably despite the difficult
conditions,” he said.
After a couple of attempts, center forward Izzeldin El Habib broke the ice
with the first goal in the 10th minute.
with the first goal in the 10th minute.
Queen City defended Global well but Mark Hartmann scored on a beautiful
free kick just outside the box that grazed past the wall and into the net
before the halftime break in the 45th minute.
free kick just outside the box that grazed past the wall and into the net
before the halftime break in the 45th minute.
Angel Guirado opened up the second half by scoring one of his three goals.
Guirado got past porous defense of Queen City to score Global’s third goal
in the 66th minute.
Guirado got past porous defense of Queen City to score Global’s third goal
in the 66th minute.
Two minutes later, Hartmann scored on another breakaway goal for a
commanding 4-0 lead. Global started to relax and let down its guard and
Dan Villarico capitalized on it with a
beautiful strike just outside the box for the home team’s first goal of the
match in the 73rd minute.
commanding 4-0 lead. Global started to relax and let down its guard and
Dan Villarico capitalized on it with a
beautiful strike just outside the box for the home team’s first goal of the
match in the 73rd minute.
“I scolded them because they lost concentration,” said Reid after his
team conceded a goal that could have been avoided. “It was a free shot
and a point to lose”Guirado
immediately retaliated and hit another goal with a nifty flick of the ball just
three minutes after.
team conceded a goal that could have been avoided. “It was a free shot
and a point to lose”Guirado
immediately retaliated and hit another goal with a nifty flick of the ball just
three minutes after.
Joseph Rodriguez scored the second goal for the Cebuanos with a
header from a corner kick in the 82nd minute before Guirado completed
his hat trick a minute into injury time.
header from a corner kick in the 82nd minute before Guirado completed
his hat trick a minute into injury time.
With the win, GFC advanced to the finals of the Smart Club National
championships after topping Group E with six points. Cebu finished
the elimination with three points.
championships after topping Group E with six points. Cebu finished
the elimination with three points.
Global missed the services of Spanish striker Rufo Sanchez,
who went back to Spain, and Azkals midfielder Carli de Murga.
who went back to Spain, and Azkals midfielder Carli de Murga.
“We played an okay game despite missing Carli de Murga and
Rufo Sanchez. We lost a few players and we weren’t in full
strengthbut I give credit to our players,” said Reid.
Rufo Sanchez. We lost a few players and we weren’t in full
strengthbut I give credit to our players,” said Reid.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on December 05, 2013
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