By NIMROD NL QUIÑONES

 

Global Football Club of the Leyte Football Association dumped Queen City United FC of the Cebu Football Association in their elimination round match for the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) smart National Club Championships Wednesday afternoon at the Cebu City Sports Center.

Philippine national team member Angel Guirado scored a hat trick for defending champion Global to lead his team to a 6-2 whacking of the host squad.

Angel Guirado fires a shot right in front of Queen City goalie Charlie Villarta to score his first of three goals.
Angel Guirado fires a shot right in front of Queen City goalie Charlie Villarta to score his first of three goals.

Izzeldin Elhabib broke the ice for Global FC knocking in a goal on the 10th minute.  Queen City United tried to regroup and its defense managed to foil succeeding attempts, but Mark Hartmann found the back of the net on the 45th minute to give Global a 2-0 advantage at the bend.

It was a physical game that kept the referee very busy.
It was a physical game that kept the referee very busy.

Global, which represented the country in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President’s Cup last May in Cebu, looked even more formidable in the second half.

Guirado found his mark on the 66th minute attacking on the left flank letting go of a shot that caught queen City goalie Charlie Villarta off guard.

Hartmann scored his second goal two minutes later to make it 4-0 in favor of the team from Leyte.

Mark Hartmann fends off a defending QCU player to score his second goal.
Mark Hartmann fends off a defending QCU player to score his second goal.

The tournament requires each member football association to send its champion club to the tournament.  For this group of the competition only Cebu, Leyte and Northern Samar have teams.

Originally Global wasn’t allowed to represent LFA, but later it was ruled that it was a legitimate representative of the football association.

Queen City players celebrate the goal of Dan Villarico.
Queen City players celebrate the goal of Dan Villarico.

Queen City found some hope on the 73rd minute when Dan Villarico outwitted the Global goalie to the delight of the crowd.

Guirado scored again on the 76th minute to douse all hopes of Queen City.

Angel Guirado found his mark three times during the game.
Angel Guirado found his mark three times during the game.

The scoring parade did not end there as Queen City’s Joseph Rodriguez knocked in the second goal of the hosts on the 82nd minute to make it 2-5.

Guirado completed his hat trick on the first minute of injury time to settle the final tally.

Popular national team member Fil-Iranian Misagh Bahadoran proved once more he is the darling of the crowd at the CCSC.
Popular national team member Fil-Iranian Misagh Bahadoran proved once more he is the darling of the crowd at the CCSC.

The victory earned Global a ticket to the next stage of the tournament.

Queen City United earned the right to represent Cebu by virtue of winning the men’s open crown in the 15th Aboitiz Cup Football Tournament.

The same opportunity awaits the winner of the men’s open crown of the 16th Aboitiz Cup, which was supposed to start last weekend.

Organizers said yesterday that games of the 16th edition of the Aboitiz Cup will start this Saturday, but the grand opening ceremony will be held at a later date.