Global-Cebu Football Club endured a painful evening away at the Tan Sri Dato Haji Hassan Yunos Stadium in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, after they experienced a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim F.C.
Mahalli Jasuli (30′), Safiq Rahim (34′ penalty), Brian Ferreira (87′) and Marcos Antonio (90+2′) provided the goals which secured the home club’s second win in the 2017 AFC Cup group stage. In contrast, this was Global’s first loss in the competition this year.
“First of all we’re disappointed with the result. We can do better than this especially if we started better in the first half,” lamented Global captain Misagh Bahadoran, who had only played as first half substitute due to a spinal problem.
Such was JDT’s dominance that final UFL champions failed to impose themselves on the contest. Global goalie Patrick Deyto was a busy man as he was forced to put up good saves against JDT striker Hazwan Bakri.
The Cebu-based club were rendered toothless at the other end of the pitch due to JDT’s sturdy defense. The home club’s goalie, Izham Tarmizi, only had a tame Darryl Roberts header to contend with. Global, though, thought they had broken the deadlock only for Hikaru Minegishi’s effort to be ruled out for offside.
Whatever sturdiness Global had in the first half was brought to naught twice in just four minutes. Mahalli unleashed a shot at the edge of Global’s box which went past Deyto in the 30th minute. JDT were then awarded a penalty three minutes later when Global defender Amani Aguinaldo was adjudged to have fouled Hazwan. Up stepped Safiq, who doubled JDT’s cushion in the 34th minute.
JDT owned a 2-0 cushion at the break and they demonstrated why they had won this tournament two years ago. On the other hand, Global players had to lick their wounds as they were simply outplayed on the pitch.
Upon the game’s resumption, a much-improved Global returned to the game, although JDT still maintained control of the contest. The Malaysian side dictated the game’s pace and eased their way into solidifying their lead.
Global belatedly tried to get back into the contest in the final stages of the game, but it was a case of being too little, too late. Tarmizi made good saves against attempts from substitute OJ Clarino and Shu Sasaki to effectively silence any talk of a revival.
In the game’s final stages, JDT inflicted more pain to Global’s wounds. Substitute forward Brian Ferreira eluded the Global backline and rounded Deyto to triple JDT’s lead in the 87th minute. There was still one more goal to come, as Antonio headed the ball home in the 90+2 minute to compound the Filipino side’s misery.
It finished JDT 4-0 Global, and the latter have much to ponder if they want to avenge this loss against the former on April 5, 7:30 PM, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
As a result of this loss, Global are relegated to 2nd place in Group F with six points, as JDT are ahead of them with seven points. Bahadoran concluded, “We are so disappointed with the result. We know our mistakes, we will come back stronger. I promise you guys.”
JDT XI: Tarmizi, Zainal, Antonio, Safiq, Hazwan, Cabrera, Fazly, Mahally, Azrif, Guerra, Fadhli
Global XI: Deyto, Hartmann, Mulders, Villanueva, Aguinaldo, Minegishi, Augustien, Roberts, Sasaki, Dos Santos, Barbaso
