TEAM captain Misagh Bahadoran created one perfect pass and scored a goal himself to help power Global Football Club past Singapore’s Tampines Rover, 2-0, in their knockout qualifying round duel in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League on Tuesday Night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Bahadoran fed Japanese-Iraqi Ahamd Azzawi for Global’s first goal in the 61st minute. The veteran midfielder of the national men’s team Azkals then scored a perfect shot outside the box off a cross from Azzawi for Global’s second goal in the 73rd minute.
“We lost twice to Tampines in Singapore [S-League], but I promised that we will win it at home because everybody showed their support for us,” Bahadoran said. “It was a tough game, but we used a different strategy that worked for us.”
“I’m so happy to be part of this. ‘Biggest victory ever for a Filipino club and this is an amazing moment,” he added. “Australia, here we come.”
Global advanced to the next phase of the Championship League and will face Brisbane Roar of the Australian A-League for another do-or-die match on January 31.
Goalkeeper Patrick Deyto also played huge for Global with his saves, especially against Tampines’s final two attempts.
Global’s newly appointed coach, Japanese Toshiaki Imai, also validated his wizardy and proved doubting Thomases wrong about the team’s inadequate preparation for the match.
“I came here only about four days ago, but the players heeded my advice and remained patient. That’s why we got two goals, including the big save of Deyto in the penalty kick,” Imai said.
Imai, however, cautioned his players about their next assignment.
“Australian players are taller and they have [good] power. But I think our strong point is agility. I hope our team will have a 100-percent performance.”
If Global beats Brisbane Roar, the defending United Football League champion will move one game closer to the Group Stages where it will join heavily favored Chinese Super League team Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, which is led by Argentinian icon Carlos Tevez, next month.
Image credits: Alysa Salen