Top dogs Global, Kaya crush foes to start UFL bid

MANILA, Philippines – Powerhouse teams Global and Kaya steamrolled their respective foes to open their title campaign in the United Football League Cup with a big bang at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig City Thursday night.

Global, coming off a strong semifinal finish in the Singapore Cup more than a week back, leaned on Fil-Spanish Angel Guirado's hat-trick in overpowering a listless General Trias International to join Forza FC atop Group D with three match point apiece.

Kaya likewise didn't leave anything to chance as it bamboozled a hapless Manila All-Japan side, 7-0, to zoom to the top of Group B with Union Internacional Manila also with three point each.

After spearheading the attack in the first break with a pair of goals for a comfortable 3-0 lead by a Dan Palami-managed Global, the long-haired, hefty Guirado struck again on the 71st to finish with a three-goal effort.

Sudanese striker Izzo El Habib opened up the scoring right on the ninth-minute mark while Aaron Altiche scored the Global booters' other goal after tapping home a beauty of a pass from Ben Starosta.

Wearing pink laces on their uniform in observance of the breast cancer awareness month, Kaya went on attack mode early as Anton del Rosario, Danilo de Jong, whose elder brother Jong is a member of the Phl Azkals team, and new acquisition Emmanuel Mbata took turns in giving their team a 3-0 halftime edge.

It was total carnage after it as Antonio Ugarte and Kenshiro Daniels each unleashed a goal apiece and Mitchell Davidson coming up with a brace.