Azkals drub 10-man Nepal to open Asian Cup qualifiers

PH Azkals vs Nepal at Rizal Memorial Stadium. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Finally showing the fangs it had been been missing the past games, the Philippine Azkals pounced on the 10-man Nepal side, 4-1, on Tuesday at Rizal Memorial Stadium to pick up the full three points in their 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifying opener.

Phil Younghusband atoned for his penalty kick miss seven minutes earlier and scored the icebreaker via a penalty kick in the 21st minute, before making it a brace in the 23rd minute off a Mike Ott flick.

Iain Ramsay also took advantage of the Azkals’ blitz, sending the ball to the back of the net with a volley in the 28th minute to make it a 3-0.

The Nepalese side, though, squeaked one in just before the halftime break as Bishal Rai stunned a listless Neil Etheridge in injury time.

It was a gallant stand for Nepal, which lost midfielder Bikram Lama at the 12th minute for a handball at the penalty box but still showed a better fight in the second half.

Javier Patino, though, would score on a ground ball from the upper edge of the box in the 73rd minute to further pad the Philippines’ lead to 4-1.

Azkals will next face Tajikistan on June 13 at Pamir Stadium in Dushanbe.