MANILA – Global Cebu barged into the win column of the 2018 Philippine Football League after stunning league-leader Kaya Iloilo 3-1 on Wednesday at the Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna.
Jordan Jarvis, Darryl Roberts and Negrense Gerardo Valmayor fired a goal each to lead Global, which played for the first time after asking the league to reschedule its two previous matches due to financial reasons.
The Cebu team managed to pull off the huge upset despite losing its key players Rufino Sanchez of Spain, Wesley dos Santos of Brazil and Philippine Azkals mainstay Paolo Bugas.
“We’re climbing up a mountain based on our standing at the moment,” said Ilonggo Marjo Allado, Global Cebu’s interim coach. “For almost three weeks we didn’t have official training, so in terms of fitness we’re just maybe 70 to 80 percent.”
Both teams struggled to find their scoring touch until Kaya drew first blood before halftime on a header by Masanari Omura. Global quickly retaliated in the second half on a header by Jarvis.
Global seized the advantage at the 71st minute, with Roberts firing a header at the far post. It wrapped up the victory with Valmayor scoring on a breakaway goal at the 83rd minute.
The teams had heated sequences – Kaya’s Robert Lopez Mendy and Alfred Osei were sent off with straight red cards in the first and second half, respectively.
Both players will be out when Kaya battles Davao Aguilas in Iloilo on June 2.
With the win, Global improved to 4 points on one win, one draw and four losses while Kaya remained on top of the standings with 16 points on five wins, one draw and three losses./PN
