Global booters eye big finish vs Brisbane

MANILA, Philippines - Global FC hopes to move closer to a coveted AFC Champions League spot today as it battles Australian side Brisbane Roar in a David-versus-Goliath qualifying match on the road at Brisbane Stadium in Australia.

Coming off a historic 2-0 victory over Singapore’s Tampines Rovers in Stage 1 of the qualifiers last week, the People’s Club hopes to carry the momentum over to the 7 p.m. duel as it eyes a big reversal against the three-time A-League titlists to keep its ACL aspirations going.

A stunning upset in the Stage 2 fixture will send the Phl club into the playoff round against a Carlos Tevez-led Shanghai Shenhua with qualification to the ACL group stage already on the line.

“It (Brisbane) is a strong team but I think if we work hard, fix the holes that we had in the game against Tampines, we’ll have a chance,” said Global team owner Dan Palami, who also counts on the Filipino community in Brisbane for needed crowd support.

Skipper Misagh Bahadoran, who got “inside intel” on the Roar from Azkals teammate and former A-League mainstay Iain Ramsay, vowed to give it a strong effort.

“We will play our best and fight until the end, and then we will see the result,” Bahadoran told The World Game, an Australian football TV program.

Global’s Japanese coach Toshiaki Imai said Global will bank on its agility and skills.“I hope our team gives 100 percent (effort),” he said.

Roar coach John Aloisi said they shouldn’t take Global lightly.

“They’re a side that can break very well, they’ve got some quick players going forward, some experienced players, some foreign players, so they’re going to be well organized. It’s a big game for them … we have to be ready for that.” Aloisi told FOX Sports.

Brisbane is in the middle of a hectic schedule in both the A-League and the ACL qualifiers.