Global FC reduces M’Lang to smithereens in PFF-Smart Club tiff

Matches today (Rizal Memorial Stadium)

4 p.m. – Global Fc vs. Stallion FC

7 p.m. – Erco-Bro FC vs M’Lang FC

MANILA, Philippines - Global FC tore M’Lang FC of North Cotabato to pieces, 10-0, to kick off its bid in Group B of the PFF-Smart Club Championship in emphatic fashion Friday night at the Rizal Stadium.

Imposing their mastery over their overmatched but game opponents, eight Global players took turns finding the back of the net with Izzo Elhabib and sub Hikaru Minegishi each scoring a brace as the fancied club lived up to its billing.

Iloilo’s Stallion FC turned back Cebu’s Erco-Bro, 5-1, to get the full points in the first game.

 “We’re happy to gain the three points and we’ve managed to give most of our squad a run-out,” said Global coach Leigh Manson, who fielded in five subs in the one-sided match.

Defender Masaki Yanagawa opened the floodgates of scoring for Global at the fourth minute with Dennis Villanueva (13’) Raul Martinez Rodriguez (21’) and Mark Hartmann (32’) joining the fray to give Global a 4-0 cushion at halftime.

Elhabib fired the first of his two goals 16 minutes after restart and Minegishi followed suit five minutes later to make it a six-goal lead. Elhabib (71’), Satoshi Otomo (80’), Minegishi (86’) and Yu Hoshide (87’) rounded up the offensive display.

““Overall, I’m happy we’re got 90 minutes of football and kept a clean slate. But as a coach, there’s always gonna be an area where I’m not happy (about). We spoke to the players before the game about unforced errors. How many times did we give the ball away when we were under pressure? With all respect, when we play against a higher-level (opponent), we might get punished for those unforced errors,” said Manson.

Earlier, Stallion broke away from a 2-1 game with a brace from Nguenge Landry (58’ and 85’) and a late goal from Ameachi Mbata (90+2) to finish off Erco-Bro.

Stallion stormed to a 2-0 tear behind the fourth-minute goal of comebacking Ruben Doctora and a 43rd minute connection by OJ Clarino.

Erco pulled one goal back via Tekeme Ayibapreye in the 51st before Stallion restored order.