SHOWING they wanted the victory more, the Philippine Azkals came out aggressively than their Sri Lankan counterpart during the second leg of their World Cup qualifying match at the rain soaked Rizal Football stadium
“The Azkals showed they want it more than the Sri Lankans,” said Baguio City National High School football head coach Aries Bocalan.
In front of a drenched full-capacity home crowd, the Azkals clobbered the visiting Brave Red, 4-0 for an aggregate two game total of 5-1and advance to the second round where the Filipino booters will face Kuwait.
“Big factor yung home field at maganda yung pitch, sa start pa lang mas aggressive na ang Azkals kaya we won it,” added Bocalan.
Still recovering from a recurring hamstring injury, Phil Younghusband scored twice while Chieffy Caligdong and Angel Guirado added one goal each.
The men’s national football team will face a higher-ranked team in a very different and Middle Eastern climate unlike the rain-drenched match they just had.
Kuwait, which is at 102th in the FIFA ranking will host the Azkals (159th) on July 23 with the return match set five days later at the Rizal Memorial football field.
In addition to qualifying to0 the second phase, the Azkals also pulled off that elusive first win for Philippine football in a World Cup qualifier.
The Azkals, playing in front of 13,000 supporters went on a relentless attack from the get-go, making a whopping 26 attempts at the goal where four went in.
“If we want to replicate our victory against Kuwait, yung team should be attack oriented and control the possession most of the time. The team should be more aggressive dahil malakas yung Kuwait,” said the former Ateneo Blue Eagle who the crown in the UAAP from 2004-2007. (Roderick Osis)
Published in the Sun.Star Baguio newspaper on July 05, 2011.
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