Timor Leste eliminates U-23 Azkals, 2-1

JAKARTA—Football, a sport that’s enjoying unprecedented popularity back home, became the first casualty for Team Philippines in the 26th Southeast Asian Games.

“I want to say (that I am) deeply sorry to the wonderful fans back home,” a dejected German coach Michael Weiss said moments after his Under-23 Azkals took a 2-1 loss from Timor Leste Monday afternoon to all but bow out of their event.

Diogo Santos Rangel knocked in the marginal goal just three minutes into the second half, breaking a 1-1 tie the Filipinos forged at the Lebak Bulus Stadium here.

Poor defense again doomed the Azkals, who gave up a goal just 17 minutes into the match and couldn’t prevent Rangel from zigzagging his way near the penalty box to flick in the winning goal.

Rangel got a feed from Murilo and dribbled his way past Patrick Hinrichsen in the right flank before scoring with his right foot which keeper Roland Muller didn’t come close to stopping.

With their second straight loss after a thorough 1-3 manhandling from Vietnam last Thursday, the Filipinos now need a miracle to advance to the crossover Final Four.

As things stand in Group B, Timor Leste has the lead at 2-0 with Vietnam and Myanmar tied with a win and a draw each. The Philippines next faces Myanmar and then Laos and Cambodia.

Only two squads will make it to the next round and something absolutely crazy must happen in the last three games of the Timorese, the Vietnamese and Myanmar for the Philippines to advance.

“It was a very bitter defeat for such a young team,” Weiss said.

“This team is being prepared for (the SEAG in) 2013,” the burly coach said. “Right now, I don’t think it’s realistic for us to think of the semis. I don’t think that it was even realistic to think about it from the start (of the tournament).”

Jose Elmer Porteira knotted the score in the 37th minute after converting on a right-footed strike deep in the penalty box which was set up by a brilliant cross from Patrick Hinrichsen.