Azkals survive Tajiks in thriller, firm up hold of top spot in Group F

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The Philippine Azkals survived a late Tajikistan uprising for a thrilling 4-3 win to firm up its hold of the top spot in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers at Republican Central Stadium in Dushbane.

Captain Phil Younghusband opened the scoring with a free kick in the 28th minute, before a brace from Javier Patinño off two assists from Mike Ott put the Azkals on their way to what looked like a comfortable victory before 15,000 fans in the Tajik capital.

Patiño scored with a composed finish from just inside the box in the 42nd minute, before grabbing his second with a breakaway goal off another fine pass from Ott.

But Tajikistan struck twice in quick succession with Parvizchon Umarbaev scoring from the spot in the 57th minute off a questionable foul called on Amani Aguinaldo and Dilshod Vasiev finishing off a quick counter four minutes later, setting the stage for a nervy finish.

Leftback Daisuke Sato restored the two-goal advantage for the Azkals with a long range strike with 10 minutes remaining but Manuchekr Dzaliliov late strike put the game back on a knife-edge and the Azkals would feel relief more than anything after another unconvincing display on the heels of the 1-8 friendly loss to China.

“The players did a great job,” said Azkals coach Thomas Dooley. “They where focused from the beginning and tried to do everything we talked about, even in the free kick.”

After the defeat to China, Dooley said “the team had many meetings and all of them positive but direct to the point why things happen in football.”

“I know we would do great, but we still have a lot to learn,” Dooley added.

The Azkals now have six points from two matches, two points ahead of Yemen which battled Nepal to a goalles draw in Kathmandu. Tajikistan remained winless from two matches.

The Azkals face Yemen on Sept. 5 at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod. Only the Top 2 teams from the group will qualify for the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates in 2019.