Global, Kaya kick off title drive with big wins

MANILA, Philippines - Powerhouse teams Global and Kaya rolled past their respective rivals to kick off their respective campaign in the United Football League Cup in impressive fashion at the Emperador Stadium in Taguig City Thursday night.

Global, coming off a strong semifinal finish in the Singapore Cup two weeks ago, leaned on Fil-Spanish Angel Guirado’s hattrick in overpowering a listless General Trias International, 5-0, to join Forza FC in the Group D lead with three match points apiece.

Kaya also came through with a lopsided 7-0 rout of Manila All-Japan to tie Union Internacional Manila in Group B also with three points each.

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

Sudanese striker Izzo El Habib opened up scoring on the ninth-minute while Aaron Altiche scored the Global booters’ other goal after completing a superb pass from Ben Starosta.

Wearing pink laces on their uniform in observance of the breast cancer awareness month, the Kaya booters went on attack mode early as Anton del Rosario, Danilo de Jong and new recruit Emmanuel Mbata combined to give their team a 3-0 lead at the turn.

Antonio Ugarte and Kenshiro Daniels then unleashed a goal apiece and Mitchell Davidson came up with a brace to punctuate Kaya’s domination of the Manila All-Japan side.