Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Manila: Global FC had to settle for a runners-up finish in the 2014/15 Philippine Football Federation (PFF)-Smart National Club Championship after the AFC Cup 2015 Group G side went down 2-0 to Loyola Meralco Sparks in Saturday’s final.
The Sparks were dealt a major blow early when star striker Phil Younghusband went off injured with just 12 minutes at the Rizal memorial Stadium played.
Despite the setback, the Loyola took the lead six minutes later through Eddie Mallari before their advantage was extended in the 57th minute through midfielder Matt Hartmann and although Global tried hard to find a foothold in the match the Sparks stood firm against the reigning United Football League Division 1 champions.
Izo El Habib emerged as the tournament’s top scorer with seven goals and Global will be hoping the Sudanese sharpshooter is in equally prolific form when they make their AFC Cup debut on February 25 when they return to the Rizal Memorial Stadium to host Hong Kong’s South China.
Global fans will also be watching Wednesday’s 2015 AFC Champions League Preliminary Round 1 clash between Yadanarbon and Warriors FC. If the Myanmar league champions lose to their Singaporean counterparts – or at any other stage of the ACL Playoffs – then they will slot into Group E of the AFC Cup, alongside Global, South China and 2014 Malaysian FA Cup winners Pahang.