AFC President's Cup: Global bows to KRL FC

Cebu - After winning their opening game versus Bhutan’s Yeedzin FC, the Philippines’ Global FC lost to Pakistan’s Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) FC, 2-0, Friday in Cebu City.

[Related: Global FC shocks Yeedzin FC in AFC President’s Cup]

Global FC drops down to third place in the group with just three points. Kyrgyztan’s Dordoi FC and KRL FC now have 4 points apiece, while Yeedzin remains winless.

The UFL champs now find themselves in a must-win situation versus Dordoi FC on Sunday, though it figures to be a difficult battle. The team representing the Kyrgyz Republic has been in the AFC President’s Cup Finals six times.

First half

Global head coach Brian Reid made no changes to Global’s Starting XI, still sending in Ivorian goalkeeper Moussa Sanogo instead of the Azkals' Ed Sacapano. Sacapano is on loan to Global from Army FC.  

Former Azkal and long-time Global FC player Jerry Barbaso again wore the captain’s armband but played without his afro, opting instead to tie his hair into a bun.

In a very early scare for Global, KRL fired a shot within just the first minute that may have rattled the Philippines-representative team from the start.

But Global powered on and at the third minute, Denis Wolf found Misagh Bahadoran out front, but he misfired and the ball flew over the crossbar.

Just three minutes later, there was another chance for KRL to go ahead, but the ball went just wide of the bar, making it already a more exciting game than the Global versus Yeedzin FC game.

At the twelfth minute, Sanogo was caught flat-footed by a KRL ball out of a corner. The ball hit the far post and may have bounced off Barbaso, who was inside the goal before finding the back of the net, giving first blood to KRL FC.

In what was probably the best chance of the game until that moment, Patrick Reichelt crossed the ball to Bahadoran, who headed the ball towards the goal at the 21st minute, but the KRL goalkeeper was able to collect it.  

A seeming lack of communication seemed to prevail over Global’s midfield for a few minutes, even as Juani Guirado went up the field from the back line with the ball. However, his pass was slightly ill-timed and did not find connect with any of the forward players.

At the 27th minute, Jeffrey Christiaens crossed the ball to Reichelt, whose header was way too strong, but that seemed to enliven Global as they attacked the KRL defense a little more.

However, the tide seemed to be going against Global FC as a yellow was shown to Christiaens, who got entangled with KRL’s Abid Khan. It was followed by a yellow for Patrick Reichelt at the 31st minute on a really soft challenge.

At the 35th minute, Global FC made its first substitution: Joshua Beloya was sent in for the still ineffective Wolf up top.

KRL began playing pretty dirtily but the referee did not seem to see it. Additionally, there were seemingly mixed signals as to what constituted a foul or what would merit a card.

Another chance for came for KRL in the 37th. Sanogo got to the ball but not after making all the people in the stadium hold their breaths. The Ivorian goalkeeper looked a little unsure the whole game.

A yellow card on Jason de Jong greeted Global FC in the additional minutes of the first half, but Sanogo was able to save the ball off the free kick. The half would end with another save by Sanogo, but it was thanks to great timing by Guirado, who headed the ball up so the goalkeeper could easily catch it.

Second half

Global came out a little stronger in the second half and were able to scare KRL at the 49th minute when their keeper almost fumbled a shot on goal.

A side story during the game was how a few of the KRL players seemed to try and get on coach Reid’s nerves. KRL’s Adil, probably almost a foot shorter than the 6’2” Scot, exchanged a few words with Global’s head coach before stepping away. The referee however seemed to not even warn Adil but went over to the coach, who was still in his box, to pacify him. The KRL keeper would eventually be shown a yellow also for trying to provoke coach Reid.  

At about the 53rd minute, successive corners for Global FC saw KRL FC defending with everything they had. However, the team from Pakistan answered right back, forcing Sanogo to a sliding save just a minute later.

However, Global hit another dry spell offensively and KRL kept up their attack, forcing Sanogo to make several saves. At the 62nd, he almost fumbled the ball, earning a gasp from the almost solidly Filipino crowd.  

At the 70th minute, substitute Beloya got to the ball on time but was only able to head it over the bar. Three minutes later saw what was probably the best chance for Global as Bahadoran and Carlie de Murga passed the ball to each other going towards the goal, but the ball was cleared by KRL at the last moment.

There was collective heartbreak in the stadium at the 76th minute as KRL FC saw the back of the net again and made it 2-0. A clearance from Global’s back line went straight back to a KRL player and the attack left Ben Starosta and Guirado half a step behind their marks.

After the second KRL goal, everything seemed to go downhill for Global. In the ensuing minutes, Marvin Angeles came on for Jason de Jong and Aaron Altiche came on for Misagh Bahadoran. But that was it for Global FC and the game ended 2-0.

“We should have won the game tonight, we were the better team,” said Coach Reid. “It was a travesty that we lost 2-0. Unbelievable.”

However, the Global coach also had this to say: “KRL were finalists last year, [which] shows you how far Global has come. I can’t be disappointed with the way we performed, we were the better team, unfortunately the scoreline doesn’t reflect that.”

KRL’s coach Tariq Lufti meanwhile praised Global’s supporting crowd, who cheered the team on throughout the game. “Coming into the tournament, I though we had to play really well versus either Dordoi or Global, but we knew that if you can beat Global at home [even with the crowd], you can qualify.”

What's next

Global FC must now win versus Dordoi FC on Sunday, May 12, to qualify for the next round of the AFC President’s Cup. The game will be at 7:30pm at the Cebu City Sports Center.

At 4:30pm of the same day, KRL FC will go up against Bhutan’s Yeedzin FC. Barring a complete meltdown, KRL is almost assured of qualification to the next round. - AMD, GMA News