UFL: Global powers past Nomads with both Scottish coaches missing

Global dominated the Nomads at the Emperador Stadium on Thursday, as despite several injuries and suspensions, they managed to win out 4-0. Both teams were also dealing with their respective coaches’ suspensions. Koray Gunduzoglu opened the scoring at the 17th minute, with Ben Starosta’s cross a worthy assist, before the Turkish winger scored in injury time of the first half, rounding the keeper and slotting in his and Global’s second. Izzo El Habbib then rounded the keeper at the 57th minute, but took so long putting the ball into the back of the net, he was almost left with egg on his face as Phil Connolly blocked his first tap-in before the Sudanese striker managed to bumble the ball in. Things got worse for Nomads before the restart as Nicolas Hacker was sent off for tangling with Marwin Angeles leaving his team three goals and a man down. Global made it four in the 78th minute, substitutes combining as Nino Ochoterena got to the byline and cut back for Joshua Beloya to tap it in, as Global controlled possession, attempting almost thirty shots to Nomads’ two in the hour and a half of football, that statistic telling the story of this match. First half An undermanned Global got off to a good start against the Nomads as they controlled the possession early on. Koray Gunduzoglu’s long-range effort was tipped over by Friso Klok in the ninth minute, before Klok was again called into action in the 16th minute to turn away another shot for a corner. The corner was too deep and Global had to restart the play, passing around, and eventually they found the breakthrough they wanted, as Ben Starosta crossed in for Koray Gunduzoglu to head in his second goal in two games at the 17th minute. Jose Lozano became the first player to get booked, in the 22nd minute, as Global won another corner and Izzo El Habbib shot over from the play. The Nomads have struggled to score goals all season and Izzo El Habbib’s seven-goal tally for the season is the same number as the whole Nomads’ squad has scored. Then as Patrick Reichelt was brought down with no free-kick given, the Global winger, furious with the lack of a decision, vented his frustration, getting a yellow card for his dissent. Gunduzoglu could have doubled his and Global’s tally as Izzo El Habbib crossed to the backpost, but Reichelt’s flick on took it out of the path of the Turkish winger. Phil Connolly picked up a yellow card for a foul thirty yards from goal, but Gunduzoglu fired the free-kick well over the goal in the 35th minute, before Izzo El Habbib again shot over moments later. Global was controlling the possession and the chances, but they also got lucky, as keeper Friso Klok took longer than the allowed six seconds to clear, while holding it in his hands. This gave Global an indirect free-kick in the area, but El Habbib’s attempt was blasted into the wall before the Sudanese striker pirouetted in the area and curled wide moments later. And as it looked like Global were going to take a slender lead into the break, Patrick Reichelt played a fantastic through ball for Koray Gunduzoglu to round the keeper and double his and Global’s tally in injury time of the first half. Second half Fidelis Nnabuife came on for Nomads, as the oldest football club in the country looked to get back into the game. But they quickly were on the back foot again as Patrick Yao headed at goal from a corner, though luckily Friso Klok got down to his left quickly to claw the ball away. In the 54th minute Klok made another save from Izzo El Habbib, before the Sudanese striker finally got the better of the Nomads keeper and defense, after being played in from a fantastic pass. Walking the ball into the back of the net, he almost ruined it as the Nomads defense got back, and Phil Connolly got a block in, but El Habbib, looking like a new born giraffe, finally stumbled the ball in for Global’s third at the 57th minute.   Nicolas Harker was slapped with a red card at the 59th minute, for arguing with a referee after a confrontation with Marwin Angeles. Both teams then made a change soon after, with Nino Ochoterena coming on for Patrick Yao, while Luis Infante replaced Mico Mabanag. Patrick Reichelt again burst down the right wing, but his pass into the area was cleared out well, before Izzo El Habbib again tried to take on one too many, beating a defender, before Klok recovered to palm the ball out for a corner, when he could have shot earlier. From the corner Global hit the post as Jerry Barbaso picked up the ball on the right wing and chipped over Klok, but was unlucky to hit the upright and the ball rolled along the goal and away.   A double substitution for Global saw Joshua Beloya and Denis Wolf, in his first appearance of the season, replace Patrick Reichelt and Izzo El Habbib. The fourth goal came soon after, in the 78th minute, as Joshua Beloya tapped in fellow substitute Ochoterena’s pass from the left wing after he had beaten his man. Jeremy Theuer, a former Nomads player, came on for Koray Gunduzoglu a minute later as Denis Wolf was played in, but chipped his shot over the bar, before his headed goal in the 87th minute was disallowed for offside.   What’s next for the teams Global will next be in action against the Archers on May 2, looking to continue picking up wins and putting pressure on the Stallions at the top. Pulling the Stallions’ lead back to two points, they climb above Loyola in the process as the defending champions look to retain their crown. The Nomads, meanwhile, have now lost five in a row and need to pick themselves up quickly as they will also be in action on May 2, but against fourth placed Kaya, still unbeaten under coach David Perkovic. - AMD, GMA News