Global's ACL ended by rampant Roar

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By Kevin Estrada

It was a reality check for Global, as Brisbane Roar emphatically ended their quest in the AFC Champions League, thumping them for six unanswered goals in their Second qualifying round encounter tonight at Lang Park.

The three-time A-League champions stomped their class above their Filipino debutantes, with forward Brandon Borrello leading the way for manager John Aloisi with four goals, including a first-half hat-trick and winger Manuel Arana helping him with a brace (37', 65'), as the Roar march on to China on February 8 where a final showdown against Carlos Tevez and Shanghai Shenhua beckons for a spot in Group E, where they will join J-League's Kashima Antlers, Thai League champs Muangthong United and another playoff winner.

Borrello's four goals (12', 26', 30', 80) in one match were one of the two Australian records set in ACL history, where the other record belong to the Roar's full-time score, where the 6-0 scoreline eclipses the 2014 champions Western Sydney Wanderers' 5-0 thrashing of Guizhou Renhe in their final group game that same year.

Chances were few and far between for Global gaffer Toshiaki Imai, where they actually shot first in the fifth minute thru Ahamd Azzawi but the three-time UFL champs will have to settle for their second AFC Cup, with Magwe of Myanmar their first opponent when their Group F campaign on Feb. 21.

Brisbane's win also meant snuffing out of Loyola's hopes of playing AFC football dream as well, with the Sparks supposed to be the standby team in the AFC Cup should Global reach the ACL proper.

Follow him on Twitter: @KevinLEstrada