Global-Cebu may have just made amends for what could be seen as points dropped last weekend when they served up a 3-1 home beating of familiar opponents Davao Aguilas at the Cebu City Sports Complex last night.
The Cebuanos returned from Davao looking to make sure that the Aguilas won’t get a share of the spoils in their turf. For them to do that, they would most likely need to score first. However for a while, it looked like the visitors would break the deadlock early on.
Matthew Hartmann, formerly of Global, proved to be a handful for his old team. Inside the first 15 minutes, he produced a couple of attacks that kept the home team’s backline on their toes. Ultimately, Patrick Deyto and his mates at the back row were able to deal with their ex-teammate’s exploits.
Not long after, it was the turn of the Cebu-based squad to turn up the heat onto the visitors. Misagh Bahadoran spearheaded the attack and it was the Azkals striker that helped break the deadlock for his side. From a corner he won 23 minutes in, the one-time Muzangs player teed up Wesley dos Santos who guided the ball into the net.
It would stay 1-0 come halftime but not without both Deyto and Marko Trkulja working up some sweat to preserve the scoreline. The closest chance came from Harrison Sawyer in the 43rd minute with the former DLSU standout denying Davao’s cleverly denying the Aguilas forward.
Not willing to let the visitors come back into the game, Global knew that they needed to cushion their slim advantage. Before they claimed the important second goal, the hosts absorbed plenty of pressure from the Aguilas. Deyto needed to be alert once more to fend off decent strikes from Hartmann and it proved to be valuable stops as they were rewarded with a second goal just two minutes after the hour mark.
Darryl Roberts was at the right place at the right time to double his team’s lead, a luxury they badly wanted after noting Davao’s relentless pursuit for an equalizer prior to the Cebuanos’ second goal.
Smelling blood, The People’s Club went for the jugular when they claimed the third goal just nine minutes later. Paolo Salenga smashes the ball past Trkulja to make sure Davao would be nowhere near taking any points away from Global.
Unfortunately for Global, their victory was not paired by a clean sheet as the Aguilas pulled a consolation goal five minutes before time when Sawyer sneaked the ball past Deyto. In the end, it did little to dampen the mood in Cebu as Global recorded their fourth win in the Queen City of the South.
Furthermore, it gives Global the opportunity to leapfrog Kaya to second place in the standings. Up next for them is another home encounter against Meralco-Manila FC. As for Davao, a home game against Ceres-Negros looms on the horizon. Both games are due on Saturday, September 16, at 4PM.
