Global FC smothers Brunei in Singapore Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Global FC leaned on a late, match-clinching header by Spanish striker Rufino Sanchez as it stunned DPMM Brunei, 1-0, in the first leg of their Singapore Cup quarterfinal duel at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore Wednesday night.

With the showdown appeared heading to a scoreless draw, the booter known as Rufo calmly headed home a spectacular Jeffrey Christaens free kick in injury time that sealed the win for the 2012 UFL champions going into Saturday’s decisive second leg.

“I believe he’s got the quality,” said Global coach Brian Reid. “He probably had a better chance in the first half from six yards that he miskicked.

“But the thing I like about him is that his fitness is superb, he finished it superbly, he worked hard all night and he got his winning goal,” he added.

The victory gave the Dan Palami-managed Global side the luxury of just going for a draw in their second confrontation Saturday to advance to the semifinals in their first ever appearance in the prestigious event.

Global, however, needed to fend off several attempts at a goal from DPMM before Sanchez unleashed the coup de grace.

“I think it showed the resilience of the team,” said Palami, who also managed the Phl Azkals team. “We were ready to take the draw but with that goal. we got a cushion and some confidence facing a team that is no longer a stranger for us anymore on Saturday.”

Shrugging the jitters of a month-long break, Global had a hard time finding its groove in the first half and even yielding an early chance for DPMM with Ange Tressor Guisso intervening on the seventh minute.

Global, however, had its opportunities too with Joshua Beloya and Paul Mulders going for a goal only to get muffed by the rough, rugged DPMM defense. Carlie de Murga had another chance after he misfired on a nice set-up from Beloya.

Sanchez actually got his first goal try on the 27th but he drilled it too high and wide.