Global FC will draw on their Aussie connection as they look to upset Hyundai A-League club Brisbane Roar in tonight’s (Tues) AFC Champions League qualifier at Suncorp Stadium.
ACL qualifier preview: Brisbane v Global
The Philippines champions have three players in their squad who have played in Australia before, including a striker who tore up the Brisbane Premier League last year.
Star striker Ahamad Azzawi joined Global this month after scoring 22 goals for the Capalaba Bulldogs in the BPL last season, a return which won him the competition’s player of the year award.
The 22-year-old looms as the danger man for John Aloisi’s side having also scored in Global’s 2-0 win over Singapore’s Tampines Rovers last week to set up the clash with Roar.
But Azzawi, who was born in Japan to Iraqi parents, isn’t the only member of Global’s squad with Australian roots.
Former Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder Yianni Perkatis is also in their squad, as well as playmaker Shu Sasaki who played in the PS4 NSW NPL with Marconi and Blacktown Spartans.
With this being Roar’s second match in three days – and with the visit of league-leaders Sydney FC on Friday night – coach John Aloisi says he will rest a host of players for the Global clash.
“During this period, I have to rotate players and make sure that I freshen players up but the side that we put out will be a side that is going to be really strong and a side that is there to win,” Aloisi told www.couriermail.com.au
The winner of tonight’s match will head to China next week to take on Carlos Teves’ Shanghai Shenhua for a spot in the ACL group stage.
