Patrick Deyto preserves fourth Azkals-Malaysia draw

AZKALS goalkeeper Patrick Deyto amazingly saves the penalty kick by Malaysian striker Safee Sali at crunch time. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/MARK CRISTINO

CEBU CITY—With one spectacular show of instinct and agility, goalkeeper Patrick Deyto preserved the biggest moment of fellow Azkal Anton del Rosario’s international career.

Ranged against one of the most lethal strikers in Southeast Asia in Safee Sali of Malaysia, the Azkal goalkeeper refused to flinch and pulled off a magical diving save on a late penalty to preserve another scoreless draw between the Philippines and Malaysia amid a festive atmosphere at Cebu City Sports Center Sunday night.

It was the fourth straight draw between the two sides, which also fought to a goalless standoff in Kuala Lumpur on March 1.

Del Rosario, who led the Azkals as their captain for the first time, appeared to have handled the ball as he tried to break up a Malaysian attack just before stoppage time.

Safee, the top scorer when Malaysia won the AFF Suzuki Cup in 2010, stepped in to take the penalty but was denied by Deyto, sending the crowd into raptures.

“I took a chance and I guess I got lucky,” said Deyto.

Defeat would have been harsh on the Azkals, who had dominated the game for long stretches.

Substitute Nate Burkey had a couple of efforts going over or wide, before he was denied by the crossbar in the second half.

Coach Thomas Dooley saw plenty of positives in the performance which augurs well for their Challenge Cup campaign next month.

“It’s the kind of performance that gives us confidence,” said Dooley.

“We missed some chances, but on any other day our strikers could have converted those chances.”