Phil revs Azkals Asian Cup bid but defense shows cracks

Philippine Azkals vs Nepal in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. Photo by: Tristan Tamayo/Inquirer.net

Philippine captain Phil Younghusband wasn’t about to let a penalty miss minutes earlier throw him off his game. Not when the Azkals are enduring one of their worst run of games in recent years and struggling to find the back of the net.

So as soon as Mike Ott won the penalty in the 21st minute, the skipper—on his 87th appearance for the national team—immediately returned to the penalty spot and converted the goal that opened the floodgates of a 4-1 win over Nepal at the start of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Tuesday night at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

“My dad always told me that when you miss, you have to make the next one because if you miss again… that will play in your mind until you finally score,” said Younghusband.

Younghusband scored twice in the space of three minutes in the first half to jack up his tally to 45 international goals, before Iain Ramsay added a third in the 28th minute as the Azkals snapped a four-match winless run.

Javi Patino was also on the scoresheet with his 72nd minute strike as the Azkals got their bid to claim a spot in the continental showpiece in the United Arab Emirates in 2019 off to a rousing start.

Chinks in the Azkals’ armor showed, however, as the visitors, even with 10 men, managed to score through Bishal Rai just before halftime.

The victory put the Azkals on top of Group F on goal difference ahead of Yemen, which beat Tajikistan, 2-1, in Doha, Qatar, early Wednesday.

Azkals coach Thomas Dooley was glad to see his squad finally find the back of the net and winning. But he was critical of his defense for conceding a goal at the stroke of halftime.

“I think it can be avoided, every goal can be avoided,” he said. “I’m a little bit upset at halftime, because even when you’re winning, 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, you should have enough urgency to do something when a chance like that happens.”