Global FC crowned UFL Cup 2016 champions

Global FC captured the United Football League (UFL) Cup 2016 title late Saturday evening at the expense of Ceres La Salle FC, 3-1, at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Coming off a ban in last year’s tournament, Global came back to reclaim their place as one of the country’s top clubs with the help of the brace of Azkals standout and team skipper Misagh Bahadoran.
   
It was Ceres who had the first crack at goal in the fourth minute of the contest as Patrick Reichelt saw an opening to head the ball into the goal but Global keeper Patrick Deyto away his chance.

Global quickly capitalized on a distraught defense of Ceres in the consequent minutes of the affair with Bahadoran left unmarked inside the box to strike the rebound in the 21st minute and open the scoring.

Not long after, the defense of the Bacolod City brigade was left to pay with another goal as Bahadoran found Matthew Hartman on the edge of the box to elevate their squad’s lead to 2-0 going into the break.

After the restart Bahadoran doubled his output in the night with an impressive effort inside the area to shake away defender Jason Sabio and put the ball to the back of the net in the 56th minute.

Tension flared in the match when Ceres La Salle head coach Ali Go was thrown off the playing area following an altercation on the pitch after the side’s protest of a non-call of a hand ball in the penalty box.
        
The Busmen finally scratched a mark in their scorecard in the 61st minute with a shot courtesy of substitute Nate Burkey to cut the deficit down to just two goals.

Ceres scrambled their jets in the remaining minutes of affair to ignite their offense, sending in Stepahn Schrock to augment their attacks, but they were unable to turn the game around until the end of regulation.

With the win, Global returns to the next edition of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup with a sure slot in the qualification round of the continental club championship.

Consequently, during the battle for third place, Kaya FC escaped the pesky Stallion FC, 2-1, through the two-goal performance of striker Robert Lopez Mendy.

Also, the Loyola Meralco Sparks took home the plate title with a 2-0 rout of JP Voltes FC earlier in the game day. — APG, GMA News