Salenga goal sends Global FC to semis

MANILA, Philippines - Paolo Salenga once more delivered the goods as Global Cebu FC clinched a semifinal seat in the Singapore Cup after scoring a 4-3 aggregate victory over Beoung Ket Angkor of Cambodia Friday night at Jalan Besar Stadium.

Salenga, who fired a brace in the team’s 3-1 win in the first leg, struck with an early goal to help the Phl side clinch the series despite conceding a 1-2 defeat in the second match.

The Cebu-based booters made it to the Last 4 for the third time after stints in 2013 and 2015. They next face the winner of the quarterfinal duel between Singapore’s Hougang United and Cambodian Nagaworld with a first-ever finals appearance on their sights.

Salenga finished off a Hikaru Minegishi’s cross just four minutes in, giving Global a 1-0 head start and a 4-3 lead overall before the Cambodians struck back with Khuon Laboravy blasting it to the back of the net at the 10th minute.

Beoung Ket turned up the heat in the second half and was rewarded with its second goal of the night, courtesy of Esoh Paul Omogba’s 63rd minute header, giving its semis bid a lifeline. But the Phl crew held on, led by keeper Patrick Deyto, who made a good save in the last 10 minutes.