UFL: Global cut down Archers to keep pressure on Stallions

Global FC overwhelmed Green Archers FC on Thursday, coming out with a 4-0 victory at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig City.

 

After scoring three goals in their last two games but not winning either one, the Archers may not have been expecting a win against defending Champions Global, but they were wanting a strong performance at the Emperador Stadium, Thursday night.

 

It took Global until injury time of the first half to break the deadlock. Izzo Elhabib played in after Koray Gunduzoglu’s good work on the left to poke into the goal for his ninth of the season. Substitute Jeffrey Christiaens then got his fifth of the season in the 59th minute, beating a man and curling into the top corner, before Denis Wolf and Misagh Bahadoran combined, both as substitutes, for the former to slot in his first of the season from a few yards out in the 71st minute. 

 

And in the 90th minute, Carli De Murga was in the right place at the right time to put in the rebound off Wolf’s header to settle the score. It was a confident display by Global ahead of the President’s Cup, as they recorded their third straight win and third clean sheet to boot.

 

First half

 

Global controlled the possession early on, as Marwin Angeles’ cut back would have been a goal if Carli De Murga had cleared his feet in the 8th minute. 

 

In the 10th minute, Global countered an Archers’ corner, with Yu Hoshide finding Koray Gunduzoglu for a clear shot at goal, but on his weaker left foot, he fired straight at Deyto. 

 

The Archers started to get into the game as Arnie Pasinabo headed over before Jesus Melliza was afforded too much space and was played through, but with the man advantage, the Archer fired narrowly wide of goal from the edge of the area in the 18th minute. 

 

Two minutes later, Global came close twice to opening the scoring as Carli De Murga played in, but again, he fired straight at Deyto. As the ball spooned up, Izzo Elhabib headed back at goal, but the ball bounced off the top of the crossbar and out. Elhabib came close again in the 24th minute with a well worked free-kick, but Deyto was down quickly to save. 

 

The pattern continued with Global controlling much of the possession but failing to hit the back of the net. The Archers threatened with quick counters, but missed the final ball. Just as it looked as if the half would end goalless, though, Global got the breakthrough.

 

In the first minute of injury time, Koray Gunduzohlu beat his defender and had the time and space to pick out Izzo Elhabib, whose first touch wasn’t great. But six yards out, he was able to slide in and poke the ball into the bottom corner for his ninth goal of the season to give Global the lead at the break. 

 

Second half

 

After the break, the Archers threatened again on quick counter attacks. Jesus Melliza picked up the ball and sped past Valentine Kama, but his end product was lacking as his shot from the edge of the area tamely rolled into Sacapano’s hands. A minute later, Carli De Murga had another opportunity to score, but his sidefooted effort cracked off the post and away as the Azkal right back could have had a hat-trick. 

 

After getting booked, Marvin Angeles was replaced by Jeffrey Christiaens and Misagh Bahadoran replaced Gunduzoglu. It was Christiaens who made the first impact, picking up the ball just outside the Archers’ area, stepping over the ball to beat a defender, and curling into the top corner with his weaker right foot in the 59th minute. 

 

Jason De Jong replaced Yu Hoshide next before the Archers made a change in bringing on Arvin Soliman for Reynald Villareal. Christiaens’ low cross flashed across goal, begging for a touch to put it in. Jake Hugo was booked for bringing down Carli De Murga in the build up, while Denis Wolf came on for Elhabib soon after. 

 

Wolf got on the score sheet soon enough, scoring in the 71st minute by playing a one-two with Misagh Bahadoran inside the area and clipping the ball at goal. Deyto got a touch to the ball with his leg but couldn’t keep it out, as Wolf got his first goal of the season to put Global 3-0 in front. 

 

Marwin Angeles was then replaced by Joshua Beloya before Ayi Nii Aryee came on for Shag Shapay Johnson. To wrap things up in the 90th minute, Carli De Murga finally managed to get on the score sheet. Wolf headed at goal, but Deyto pulled off a fantastic save. De Murga was there to slice the ball towards goal, but the Archers’ defender on the line could have done better with the clearance, only helping it into the back of the net to end the game at 4-0.

 

What’s next for the teams

 

Despite good attacking displays, the Green Archers will be looking to bounce back from three games without a win against the Air Force on May 9. However, with the resurgence of the Air Force, who could fly above the Green Archers with a win, that clash will either see the Archers get sucked into the relegation battle or create a large gap between them and the Armed Forces teams. 

 

Global, meanwhile, will be looking to keep the pressure on the Stallions against Pachanga on May 14. They will also have the President’s Cup in between. The first group stage features Global against Bhutanese league Champions Yeedzin, Pakistani league Champions KRL, and Kyrgyzstani league champions Dordoi Bishkek. 

 

Global has a deep squad, but can they keep up their title challenge in the UFL while performing well in the President’s Cup and later on in the Singapore Cup? - RAF, GMA News