UFL: Global made to work for repeat 2-0 win over PSG

It took a long time for Global to figure out a resolute PSG defense, but once they did, the reigning league champions pulled off a 2-0 win late in the game, Tuesday at the Emperador Stadium.   After several saves and good blocks, Ben Starosta crashed a penalty onto the crossbar following a Jaham Taher handball. Clearly frustrated in the game, Global got the breakthrough soon after as Izzo El Habbib headed in Patrick Reichelt’s cross. The game heated up as Emmanuel Mbata and Jason De Jong both saw red, the PSG top scorer sent off with his team still in the game, while De Jong was given his second yellow for handball, while sliding to block a Taher shot. Global however made safe the result at 81st minute, as substitute and new signing Koray Gunduzoglu fired in from distance in a spectacular way to introduce himself to Global fans and make the result a safe repeat of their previous encounter. First half Global was without Jeffrey Christiaens, out due to a hamstring injury, and Roland Sadia, who was suffering a dislocated elbow after falling awkwardly in the team’s 3-2 loss to Kaya. With an even start to the game, things heated up quickly as Carlos Guisso clearly fouled Emmanuel Mbata from behind. Mbata got up and pushed Guisso over, but the referee quickly got on top of it though, and gave both players yellow cards. After Izzo El Habib then got an opportunity, chesting the ball, turning and hitting it on the volley, but it was just over the goal. Patrick Reichelt then tested Reza Ataei in goal, curling to the bottom corner from twenty yards out, but the flamboyant, controversial goalkeeper dived well to his left to palm the ball away. Then in the 14th minute, Carli De Murga’s goal was disallowed for offside. De Murga had flicking the ball on for Izzo El Habbib, who dived in to return the ball to the Azkal defender, but he was offside as he poked it beyond Ataei and the game remained goal-less. Global almost scored again, Jason De Jong shooting as he got onto the loose ball from a corner, but Younesse Yaogo blocked the ball on the line to keep PSG in the game. Then after Ataei blocked Misagh Bahadoran’s shot with his left foot in the 23rd minute, Global continued to threaten the goal but couldn’t find a breakthrough in the first half. Second half PSG continued to be resolute in the second half, Global struggling to break down the team they beat 2-0 at the start of the season quite comfortably. A series of impressive wins with fantastic, passing play led Global to the top of the league until they hit their first stumbling block. For them the question was how would they respond? In the 62nd minute Global were given the break as Jaham Taher slid in on Izzo El Habbib, who was found well in the area and turned the defender. As El Habbib turned him, Taher’s hand swept the ball away, and pleading with the referee for a penalty, it was given. Ben Starosta stepped up to take it, ready to give Global the breakthrough, but he thundered his shot onto the crossbar as Global’s bad luck continued. After the miss, the Angeles twins and new signing Koray Gunduzoglu replaced Misagh Bahadoran, Carli De Murga, and Ben Starosta in midfield, but their fortunes didn’t change as Izzo El Habbib skied a scissors kick over the bar. However the breakthrough soon came, as Patrick Reichelt’s determination and drive saw him hold off three PSG defenders on the right wing and cross in for Izzo El Habbib, who lost his marker and headed Global in front in the 68th minute. The relief on the Global players was evident and things got worse for PSG as Emmanuel Mbata saw red in the 73rd minute, meaning their top scorer, with seven goals in the league so far, will miss their next match. In the 80th minute, Jason De Jong received his second yellow for handball, while sliding in front of a shot with his arms raised. Reza Ataei followed into the book in the aftermath, and Global coach Brian Reid was also sent off for continually shouting at his PSG counterpart, and complaining to the UFL officials about their decision-making. A minute later and Global made the result safe as Koray Gunduzoglu, a close friend of Stephan Schrock, picked up the ball from distance, turned his man and fired into the bottom corner from 25-yards out. It was a fantastic strike and the perfect start to his Global career, with Joshua Beloya replacing Izzo El Habbib in injury time. With the full-time whistle sounding soon after, Gunduzuglo’s goal gave Global a 2-0 win over PSG, the same scoreline as the first game of the season for the two sides, when they met on the opening day of the season in February 5. What’s next for the teams After a narrow victory here, bouncing back from their first loss in over a year in the league, Global temporarily jump ahead of Stallions to the top of the league, until at least the Stallions’ game in hand against the Green Archers on Thursday. Starting the second round of fixtures as they started the first, with a 2-0 win over PSG, Global will hope to repeat their opening winning ways with another win over the Nomads on April 25. They will be without Jason De Jong and coach Brian Reid, however, as the tenacious midfielder and Scottish coach will have to sit in the stands for that game. And while PSG will be in action on the same day, against Stallions in the game before Global’s on April 25, they will have the tougher time of keeping up their mid-table aspirations, especially without Mbata, who has half of PSG’s fourteen goals this season. - AMD, GMA News