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[av_heading heading=’ Injury-hit Global draws Hougang in S’pore Cup ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Undermanned Global Cebu posted a 2-2 draw with Hougang United in the first leg of the 2017 Singapore Cup semifinals at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore.
Darryl Roberts fired two goals to lead the way for Global, which entered the semis on Wednesday night without injured key players Misagh Bahadoran, OJ Clarino and Armani Aguinaldo.
Global was aggressive at the start despite being shorthanded. Roberts nearly scored a goal in the 20th minute only to be denied by the Hougang goalkeeper.
The Singaporean squad drew first blood when Delwinder Singh put the ball past Global goalkeeper Patrick Deyto. The Philippine team quickly responded, with Roberts converting from a pass by Paolo Salenga.
Global snatched a 2-1 lead early in the second half on a close-range shot by Roberts from a pass by Hikaru Minegishi but Hougang answered when Fabian Kwok caught Global’s defense napping for the game-tying goal.
Global team manager Josef Malinay said he was contented with what his players showed after the tournament organizers denied their request to replace their injured players.
“Our coach is from Singapore, and he is very much familiar with how Hougang plays,” Malinay said. “I am optimistic that our remaining players will find ways to fill the gap in the second leg.”
The semifinals second leg will be held on Saturday evening at the Hougang Stadium. The series winner will face the victor in the Home United-Albirex Niigata series./PN
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