AFC President’s Cup: Outrageous corner-kick goal helps Pakistani team beat Global FC
CEBU CITY- It was a goal of such ludicrous beauty that it deserves to be on every highlight reel of every sports show in the world.
In the 12th minute of their match on Friday against Global FC in AFC President's Cup play, Khan Research Laboratories FC were given a corner kick on the right side.
KRL's midfielder Mahmood Khan, a right-footer, teed the ball up and let fly.
Usually in situations like this the ball is struck with the inside of the foot, making the ball an “out-swinger” away from the goal.
But Khan intentionally struck it with the outside of his foot, causing it to start off to the left then swing wickedly to the right.
ALSO READ: Ginebra forces do-or-die Game 5.
It flew two feet above Jeffrey Christiaens, who was by the near post. Global keeper Moussa Sanogo, who was several meters off his line on the kick, scrambled to come back to defend.
He was too late.
The ball rocketed across the goal frame past the Ivorian keeper and in off the far post, just above Jerry Barbaso, for an improbable opening score.
The Pakistanis celebrated like they had won the World Cup while the dazed Global players stood around in disbelief, done in by an exquisite, one-in-a-million corner kick.
The boisterous crowd at the Cebu City Sports Complex, who had been cheering on Global, suddenly fell silent.
And yet the game was not won on that single play, but was a fruit of a determined effort from a KRL team that was the better side on the night. The Pakistanis played hard, intense, up-tempo Football for ninety minutes and emerged with a richly deserved 2-0 victory.
ALSO READ: World's longest Football match ends 603-462.
The visitors' work-rate and hard-nosed defensive stance paid off again when left winger Adil, who goes by only one name, capped a brilliant performance with a 75th minute strike that sealed the win.
The second goal began when forward Kaleemullah barreled down the right side, outfoxed Jeffrey Christiaens, and centered to Adil, who outran Barbaso and smacked the ball past Sanogo.
Adil, who almost scored in the very first minute of the game, was a constant threat with his pace, energy, and vision.
Mahmood almost got his second twelve minutes after the half but his attempt, off an Adil delivery, clanged off the post.
Global was shackled by a KRL team that asphyxiated them with a stifling midfield press. Denis Wolf, unable to make his mark on the game, was yanked by Reid in favor of Joshua Beloya in the 35th minute.
But neither was Beloya able to pry himself from the Pakistani's hounding, as he was essentially a non-factor for the game. His best chance was a 70th minute header that balooned over the crossbar.
ALSO READ: Twitter eyes big business in Brazil's World Cup and Olympics.
Misagh Bahadoran showed flashes of brilliance but could hardly dribble out of the ferocious KRL defense.
Bahadoran did however set up Carlie DeMurga with a pass in the 73rd minute but De Murga's pass back to Misagh was agonizingly beyond reach.
Twenty minutes earlier De Murga nearly leveled with an overhead kick that sailed wide.
Another late substitute for Global, Aaron Altiche, put in a solid ten minutes with two good crosses that unfortunately did not prosper.
While both teams had chances, KRL delivered seven shots on target against just two from Global.
The most consistent Global performer was Christiaens, who served up several useful free kicks and corners while hustling on defense.
The Fil-Belgian could be seen weeping on the track after the game.
He, as well as Patrick Reichelt and Jason DeJong all got yellow cards in the first half.
The loss puts Global in third place in the four-team group after two rounds. Dordoi Bishkek, who demolished Yeedzin of Bhutan in Friday's other game 9-0, top the table with four points and a +9 goal difference. KRL lies in second with four points and a GD of +2. KRL and Dordoi battled to a 1-1 stalemate last Wednesday just before Global clocked Yeedzin 5-0.
The Pakistan champs square off against Yeedzin on Sunday and will be huge favorites to win big.
Global now has to beat Dordoi on Sunday to have any chance of progressing to the six-team final stage in late September, barring an unlikely Yeedzin upset over KRL. The Filipino team lies at three points with a GD of +3.
The game was reminiscent of the Azkal's mythical win over Vietnam in the 2010 Suzuki Cup. It basically followed the same script: road team gets first half goal against home side, then adds a second in the second half to seal the game 2-0.
The match will be aired on a delayed telecast-basis on May 16. Follow @abscbnsports on Twitter for airing times. Follow Bob @bhobg333.
