Written by: Shawn Lim

Global Cebu FC of the Philippines held their nerves to beat Geylang International 3-2 on penalties after the match had ended 4-4 in regulation time in the RHB Singapore Cup 2017 Preliminary Round at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday night.

In a thrilling encounter, Global stormed back from a goal down and thought they had done enough to win the game at regulation time after a hat-trick from Darryl Roberts and a goal from Mario Clarino.

However, Geylang refused to buckle against the AFC Cup ASEAN Zone semi-finalists, scoring twice in the dying minutes of the match to drag the tie into extra-time and then to penalties.

The Eagles got off to a flying start when Yuki Ichikawa outjumped Global custodian Patrick Deyto to nod home after the visitors failed to deal with Safirul Sulaiman’s corner in the 15th minute.

Geylang’s joy at going ahead was short-lived as Global equalised just four minutes later.

Misagh Bahadoran scuffed a fierce drive at goal from outside the box but the ball fell into the path of Roberts who poked home from six-yards out.

Global subsequently went ahead for the first time in the game on 39 minutes when Roberts converted from the spot for his second of the night after he was hacked down from behind by Al-Qaasimy Rahman in the penalty box.

Al-Qassimy would however, atone for his mistake on the stroke of half-time when he teed up Victor Coto to fire low into the bottom corner and pull Geylang level.

Global emerged from the break re-focused and dangerous as they searched for their third goal which duly arrived on 53 minutes when Safirul was penalised for a handball off Hikaru Minegishi’s shot in the box.

The Japanese midfielder saw his spot-kick blocked by Syazwan but Roberts was on hand to blast home the rebound for his hat-trick and make it 3-2 to Global.

The visitors edged further ahead on 75 minutes when Roberts brilliantly backheeled Bahadoran’s cross to the onrushing Clarino, who powered a fierce low drive into the bottom corner of the net past a rooted Syazwan.

Geylang then scored twice in the space of seven minutes to take the tie into extra-time as Quak converted from the spot after Faritz Hameed was dragged down by Roberts in the box, before Ricardo Sendra turned home Anders Aplin’s cross from close-range right at the death.

The comeback seemed to give the Eagles a second wind and they dominated proceedings in extra-time. They had a glorious opportunity to snatch victory right at the end, but Sendra’s effort from 20 yards crashed off the underside of the bar with Deyto stranded.

That proved to be the final kick of the match as it proceeded to penalties.

While Safirul and Shahfiq Ghani put away their spot-kicks for Geylang, Faritz and Sendra failed to score.

Minegishi had the chance to win it for Global after Roberts, Wesley Dos Santos and substitute Paolo Bugas had converted but the Japanese missed, leaving Quak with the opportunity to make it 3-3.

The Singapore international however blasted wide, sealing Global’s passage into the last eight of the competition.

Geylang International Caretaker Coach Noor Ali: “The performance was fantastic because the boys put in their 100 percent and we played better than our last game (in a 2-0 defeat to Warriors FC).

“We had a game plan because Global is a very strong team who reached the semi-finals of the AFC (Cup). They also had a game a couple of days ago, so we wanted to take advantage of that.

“We should have killed off the game in extra-time with the chances we had, Ricardo (Sendra) hit the post with minutes left, but it was a very entertaining game because both teams went all out.”

Global Cebu FC Head Coach Akbar Nawas: “It was a fair result for both sides in the end. You have to give Geylang the credit as well, because both sides had chances to score during the game and took it.

“There were chances for both sides to score in extra-time and nobody could, so it was only fair that the match was decided on penalties. It could have gone either way.

“It was tough playing against Geylang because I noticed that their head coach is missing today and when someone new takes over, it is natural that the players want to impress the new coach.”

Geylang International: Syazwan Buhari (GK), Anders Aplin, Yuki Ichikawa, Faritz Hameed, Al-Qaasimy Rahman, Safirul Sulaiman, Isa Halim (C), Shawal Anuar (Gabriel Quak 28’), Ricardo Sendra, Amy Recha (Shahfiq Ghani 62’), Victor Coto

Global Cebu FC: Patrick Deyto (GK), Wesley Dos Santos, Amani Aguinaldo, Jerry Barbaso, Mario Clarino, Hikaru Minegishi, Dennis Villanueva (Marco Casambre 77’), Matthew Hartmann, Serge Kaole (Paulo Salenga 71’) (Paolo Bugas 89’), Misagh Bahadoran (C), Darryl Roberts