Global-Cebu finished their Group G run in the 2018 AFC Cup with a 3-1 victory over Bali United on Wednesday night at the Kapten I Wayan Dipta in Bali.
Rufo Sanchez netted twice in the Cebuanos’ conquest of their Bali counterparts, including a quick-fire goal within two minutes. The forward guided the ball with his head to get things rolling for Marjo Allado’s team.
It took 31 minutes before Global found the back of the net again, but it was worth the wait, as Paul Mulders launched a beautiful strike from about 30 yards to double the visitors’ advantage.
The first half rout was completed in first half added time as Sanchez drilled the ball into the back of the net once more to put Global in a firm position to win their first away win in this year’s edition of the tournament.
In the second half, Bali United sought to make a contest out of it by continuously hunting for their first goal in the encounter. They notched it eventually, all thanks to Nick van der Velden, who smashed the ball past Patrick Deyto in goal.
Global have been plagued by comebacks in the past, especially in the AFC Cup, so a Bali United result wasn’t totally out of the equation. Nonetheless, the Cebuanos put on a more composed display to keep their two-goal cushion until full time.
Results elsewhere mean that the 2017 Philippines Football League runners-up finished second in Group F, picking up eight points in six games — an encouraging way to end what has been a dismal AFC Cup campaign in 2018.
