FOLLOWING an impressive showing in group play of the 2017 AFC Cup where it topped Group F, local club Global Cebu FC kicks its campaign to a higher gear beginning today with the start of their two-leg ASEAN zonal semifinals against Singapore’s Home United FC.
Happening at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium at 7:30 p.m., “The People’s Club,” as Global is referred to, tries to further what has been a successful campaign so far in the region’s secondary club football tournament hosted by the Asian Football Confederation by topping its Singaporean counterparts in their zonal semifinal pairing, whose second leg is set for May 30 on Home United’s turf.
Global topped Group F by winning five of its six games for 15 points, two ahead of its closest pursuer Johor Darul Ta’azim of Malaysia.
The clincher came on its last game against Boeungket Angkor FC of Cambodia where it won, 3-1, with Paul Mulders and Hikaru Minegishi giving Global an early two-point cushion with goals in the 12th and 28th minutes of the match.
Boeungket managed to slice Global’s lead into half but had the door shut on it eventually when Darryl Roberts scored a goal in injury time to seal the win.
Global expressed pride in being able to advance to the next stage of the AFC Cup competition, highlighting it as “good for Filipino football,” and that it hopes to continue making the country proud with its performance.
Meanwhile, Global’s opponent, Home United, topped Group H by a distance with a record of 3-0-1 with nine points, five points clear of the second-running team.
It formalized its entry in the ASEAN zonal semifinals by routing Myanmar’s Yadanarbon FC, 4-1.
Defender Mohammad Afiq Yunos started the scoring parade for Home United in 12th minute followed up by midfielder Muhammad Faris Ramli four minutes later.
Forward Muhammad Kamal made it 3-0 before substitute midfielder Adam Bin Swandi sealed the deal with a goal in the 72nd minute.
Apart from Global, the other Philippine club seeing action in the AFC Cup, Ceres Negros FC, is also through to the ASEAN zonal semifinals against Johor Darul Ta’azim of Malaysia. Their two-leg series begins tomorrow in Johor Baru.
Winners in the semifinals play each other in the zonal finals.