Misagh Bahadoran finally opened his scoring account in the Philippines Football League, netting a brace as Global Cebu dumped Stallion Laguna, 3-0, last Sunday night at Cebu City Sports Center.
The Global skipper rediscovered his scoring touch after an injury-plagued last two months, finding the target twice in the second half, before Shu Sasaki sealed the victory with an acrobatic strike late in the match.
“I’m happy I finally scored (in the PFL), but what’s important is getting the win in front of our own fans,” said Bahadoran, who came on as a substitute in Global’s huge 1-0 win over Ceres Negros last Wednesday.
The victory pushed Global to second spot with 20 points, three points off leader FC Meralco Manila, which plays powerhouse Ceres Negros at Rizal Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
It was another heavy away defeat for a Stallion side still looking for its first win of the season. Coach Ernie Nierras’ charges remain in seventh spot with just three points on three draws and seven losses.
With a record 5,500 fans in attendance, Bahadoran sparkled under the bright lights, firing the opening goal in the 49th minute when he rounded out Stallion goalkeeper Benito Rosalia. The second goal came in the 67th minute when Bahadoran followed up his saved effort from close range.
Sasaki grabbed his fifth goal of the season and Global’s third for the match four minutes from time, beating Rosalia with a bicycle kick off a cross from the right from defender Wesley Dos Santos after Stallion failed to clear a corner kick.
Over at the Davao Del Norte Sports Complex in Tagum City, Kaya FC Makati secured a crucial away win at the expense of 10-man Davao Aguilas, 5-1.
Joven Bedic bagged a brace for Kaya, while Alfred Osei, Eric Giganto and Kenshiro Daniels found the back of the net for Kaya, which climbed to fourth spot with 17 points.
Bedic scored from close range in the 20th minute, but Nikola Grubjesic struck four minutes after the break for the equalizer.
The match tilted back to Kaya’s favor when Jason Cordova was sent off in the 55th minute for a nasty challenge on Marwin Angeles.
Kaya quickly capitalized with Osei heading home off a corner three minutes later, before Bedic grabbed his second with another clinical finish. Daniels sealed the rout with a sublime 35-yard free kick to the top corner as Kaya rolled to its most convincing win of the season.
