NEW-LOOK Global Cebu FC was impressive in its first friendly the other day at the San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona, Cavite.
Global Cebu FC outclassed visiting Sabah FA, 5-1, with a hat-trick by Spanish striker Rufo Sanchez.
Sabah FA, which plays in Malaysia’s second tier league, got the early lead with a four minute goal by South Korean midfielder Heo Jae-nyeong. Rufo scored the equalizer in the 29th minute.
Just before halftime, Sabah FA was down to 10 players after its right back was sent off with a red card.
New acquisition Curt Dizon hit his first goal in a Global Cebu FC uniform in the 67th minute, since coming back to club after a three-year stint in FC Meralco Manila.
Sabah FA defender Mafry Balang scored an own goal in the 84th minute for a 3-1 Global Cebu FC lead.
The bleeding didn’t stop right there as Rufo made back-to-back goals in stoppage time - a free kick in the 91st and another goal a minute later.
This is Global Cebu FC’s first match since losing to Ceres Negros FC, 4-1, in the Philippines Football League (PFL) finals last month at the Panad Park and Stadium in Bacolod City. It is also the first time that the team played after losing some of its key players and also its new acquisitions.
Global Cebu FC lost winger Hikaru Minegishi, forward Misagh Bahadoran and ace defender Amani Aguinaldo in the latest transfer window. The Cebuano club, however, added former FC Meralco players Dizon, Jinggoy Valmayor, Daniel Gadia and Florencio Badelic Jr., and 19-year-old Cebuano defender Jordan Jarvis. (EKA)