Azkal stars battle in UFL Cup final

Azkal-laden clubs Ceres La Salle FC and Global FC will be battling for the United Football League (UFL) Cup 2016 title at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium this Saturday.

The two clubs punched their final round tickets via contrasting victories in the semifinals.

Ceres La Salle and Global are scheduled to clash in the 8:15 pm game of the triple-header Saturday.

During the first meeting of the two clubs in the group phase of the competition, Global edged Ceres, 2-1, off a late-game strike by Matthew Hartmann.

Ceres La Salle dethroned 2015 cup winners Kaya FC en route to the finals in a thrilling penalty shootout, 8-7, during their semis meeting last April 6.

The Bacolod City powerhouse club relied on the able hands of goalkeeper Louie Michael Casas to fend of two of Kaya’s chances on the penalties to seal the win.

Ceres will be bannered by Azkal standout Stephan Schrock, who is currently on a loan from German Bundesliga 2 club SpVgg Greuther Furth, while fellow Filipino internationals Manny Ott, Martin Steuble, Patrick Reichelt will also be on deck to fortify their offense.

Recently retired national team defender Juani Guirado will serve as the anchor of the team’s back-line together with the Korean duo of Kim Sang Min and Son Yong Chan.

Fatigue will serve as a factor in the Busmen’s plight to trounce Global FC as they are fresh off a win against Singapore’s Tampines Rovers FC, 2-1, for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup in Bacolod last Tuesday.

Meanwhile, perennial contenders Global FC secured their trip to the championship through the goals of Serbian Nikolic and Cameroonian Serge Kaole to post a 2-0 rout of Stallion FC in the semis.

After being disallowed to play in the previous UFL Cup due to issues with a former player, Global are on the run to reclaim their dominance in the country’s top-flight football tilt.

Global FC team captain and Azkals player Misagh Bahadoran will be leading the charge of their squad with Amani Aguinaldo, Dennis Villanueva, Daisuke Sato, OJ Clarino and Patrick Deyto.

Fil-Iranian midfielder Omid Nazari, who will be coming off a one-game suspension due to a red card, is expected to bolster Global’s chance of snatching the title together with foreign strikers Arthur Kouassi and Izzeldin Elhabib.

Aside from the heated bout of Ceres and Global, the battle for third place match between Kaya FC and Stallion FC will take place at 5:15 pm while the plate finals clash of Loyola Meralco Sparks FC and JP Voltes FC is set to take place at 2:15 pm. — APG, GMA News