PH Azkals lose big to Uzbekistan Wednesday night. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
With a little help from the bad conditions, Uzbekistan handed the Philippine Azkals a 5-1 beating in the 2018 Fifa World Cup qualifiers Tuesday at Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Early goals from the Uzbeks doomed the rain-soaked Azkals, as captain Odil Akhmedov fired from the top of the penalty box 44 seconds into the match, sending the ball past Neil Etheridge.
Sardor Rashidov made it a 2-0 at the 14th minute, curling from the left flank and sending the ball to the back of the net which silenced the Bocaue crowd.
The Philippines’ lone goal came in the 68th minute when substitute Stephan Schrock converted on a thunderous free kick from the left flank to pump life into the Azkals’ bid.
But an unmarked Rashidov claimed his brace at the 80th minute, curling the ball to the back of the net to regain the four goal difference for Uzbekistan.
Just before the first half came to a close, Igor Sergeev tripled the lead for the Uzbeks after he caught the ball from Anzur Ismailov, beating Jerry Lucena and Luke Woodland.
The Azkals had a golden chance to barge into the scoreboard at the start of the second half, but Javier Patino could not convert on his attempt in front of the goal keeper from a stellar pass from Stephan Palla at the 47th minute.
Sergeev gave himself a brace as he scored on a header off of a corner kick at the 65th minute to extend the edge to four.
The Azkals return to the pitch on October 8 to square off against Group H leader North Korea in Pyongyang.