Azkals struggle anew, bow to North Korea

Philippine Azkals lose to North Korea in friendly. Photo by Sherwin Vardeleon/INQUIRER

The Philippines slumped to its second loss in as many friendly matches, bowing to North Korea, 1-3, Monday night at a rain-soaked Rizal Memorial Stadium. 

Three nights after losing to Bahrain via the same scoreline, the Azkals’ defensive woes and lack of pace were once again exposed by a side that they had beaten last March in World Cup Qualifying. 

Azkals coach Thomas Dooley eased the pressure on his players for the tuneup match with six weeks before the AFF Suzuki Cup.

But there was no doubt that the home team’s performance left plenty to be desired.  

Majority of Dooley’s players ply their trade in the United Football League which is heading into its last two weeks after a gruelling 10-month season. 

Looking a step slower and once again struggling to cope on set pieces, the Azkals conceded three goals in the first 67 minutes, before substitute Iain Ramsay came off the bench to pull a goal back in the 75th minute.

Ramsay’s goal galvanized the Azkals and the home side finished the game on the ascendancy with Manny Ott and Luke Woodland wasting a couple of good chances near the end. 

Pak Kwang-ryong opened the scoring for the visitors with a header off a well-worked corner kick in the 10th minute, before Pak Song-chol doubled the advantage eight minutes before the break. 

It marked the second straight match that the Azkals conceded off a corner kick with an unchallenged Pak rising highest to meet the ball from the left.  

Jong-il Gwan settled the outcome by firing North Korea’s third in the 67th minute, before the visitors took their foot off the pedal, allowing the Azkals to dominate the late stages of the match. 

Dooley made three changes to the side that started against Bahrain with Misagh Bahadoran sidelined by a hamstring injury. 

Roland Muller was called in to replace Patrick Deyto on goal, while Stephan Schrock got the start after he wasn’t fielded against Bahrain. 

Despite his struggles against Bahrain, Kevin Ingreso was kept in the starting eleven, while Ramsay was relegated to the bench with Mike Ott inserted to the starting eleven. Ingreso was eventually replaced in the 70th minute by Ramsay. 

Disorganized on the defensive end, the Azkals could have conceded more goals in the first half as North Korea seemed likely to score each time it was on the attacking third. 

The Azkals managed to carve out scoring chances only in the second half when the outcome was already settled.

And with the Suzuki Cup looming, the Azkals must act quick or risk suffering an early exit in the tournament the country will be hosting for the first time.