Depleted Global faces Pahang FA

MANILA, Philippines - Short-handed Global FC seeks to rebound in the Asian Football Confederation Cup tonight as it duels Malaysian powerhouse Pahang FA in its second assignment in Group G at Stadium Darul Makmur in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia.

The People’s Club fell flat on its historic debut in the international club tourney last month, conceding a 1-6 loss to South China of Hong Kong at Rizal Memorial, and it looks at the 8:45 p.m. fixture in the third largest state of Malaysia as a chance to show it truly belongs.

“What I would like to see is the starting XI we put on the pitch and the substitutes to give a hundred percent,” said Global coach Leigh Manson, who only have 15 men at his disposal for the away match with skipper Misagh Bahadoran out on injury and Mike Jonsson and Paolo Bugas unavailable.

Manson said the loss to South China was a bitter pill to swallow but the team could only learn from it.

“When we reviewed the Hong Kong game, we were disappointed that some of the heads of the players went down and I think this is such a unique opportunity for the players to bounce back,” Manson said.

“Most players would die in their position so we really have to maximize it: Enjoy the experience; we’ve got to enjoy the competition, we have to be focused on why we are here. We are here to win a game of football and that might take 90 minutes of defending and one breakaway goal and if that’s the case, that’s what we’ll do,” he said.

The Pahang Elephants defeated Yadanarbon of Myanmar in their first game in group play, 3-2. They are also fresh from a 2-0 win over Sime Darby in the Malaysian Super League and a penalty shoot out win against Johor Darul Takzim in the FA Cup.