Global routs foe in UFL opener

MANILA, Philippines – Global FC came out strong and went on to clobber Pasargad, 7-0, and kick off its bid in the United Football League Cup at the Rizal Memorial Stadium Saturday night.

New acquisition Omid Nazari (39’, 61’, 71’) fired a hattrick while Hikaru Minegishi (15’, 44’) scored twice as the “People’s Club” made mincemeat of Pasargad’s defense to cruise to the victory and the top spot in Group B.

Izzo El-Habbib (3’) and Dennis Villanueva (79’) also hit the mark as Global marked its return to action after getting disqualified in the 2015 UFL Cup hostilities.

“Overall, I’m happy but as always we got points that we need to look at,” said Global coach Leigh Manson. “Seven unanswered goals – that’s good enough and our players are getting sharper.”

Group B club Forza likewise picked up the full points after a 1-0 win over Agila in the season-opening game that saw each side struggle to make goals.

Forza didn’t even have to find the back of the net as the own-goal of Agila defender Gerald Orcullo five minutes before the final whistle gifted the former with the triumph.

Meanwhile, JP Voltes leaned on the heroics of Japanese midfielder Takashi Odawara to nip second-division titlist Laos, 3-0, in the lone Group A match for Day One.

Odawara volleyed it home off a corner in the 19th minute to draw first blood then assisted an unmarked William Espinosa for the tap-in that doubled their margin just before halftime.

Kevin Skinker completed scoring for Voltes with a 76th minute header.