GLOBAL FC leaned on a second-half brace by newcomer Satoshi Otomo to turn back Socceroo, 2-0, and keep its lofty position in the Football Alliance League Cup of the United Football League at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Sunday night.
The reigning UFL league champions found the Socceroo defense impenetrable in the first half, before the Filipino-Japanese Otomo provided the spark after intermission when he came in for star Mark Hartmann in the 69th minute.
It was the fifth straight win for quarterfinals-bound Global, which improved its points total to 15 and moved to within a win of a Group B sweep.
Kaya FC, also assured of a quarterfinal berth, tightened its grip of second spot after walloping Manila All-Japan, 7-1.
Azkal Chris Greatwich and Emmanuel Mbata fired a brace each, but it was OJ Porteria who assisted two of their goals and added one to his name to become the Man of the Match in the rout.
Laos FC likewise emerged victorious with a 5-1 decision against Dolphins United to stay in third spot and alive in the knockout stage race.
Only two quarterfinal slots are left in each of the two groups, with Ceres-La Salle and Loyola Meralco already booking tickets in Group A.