Azkals get off on right foot in Weiss return

Jarvey Gayoso celebrates after scoring the lone goal in the Philippine Azkals’ victory over Nepal. —PFF PHOTO

Coach Michael Weiss believes there are plenty of positives on the horizon for the Philippine Azkals after a victorious start to his return handling the men’s national football side.

“Unfortunately, they are not in their best condition now, but I think the potential is really there and I’m positive about the future,” Weiss said after the Azkals’ 1-0 win over Nepal in Thursday night’s friendly match at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The triumph wasn’t as smooth as Weiss and the rest of the Azkals would like, but they got the result they had hoped to usher in a promising start under the returning German mentor.

Jarvey Gayoso scored the marginal goal off a scramble inside the box in the 49th minute before goalkeeper Patrick Deyto, back in national team duties after a long absence and filling in for regular starter Neil Etheridge, held the fort for the Azkals to give more than 3,300 fans something to be happy about.

End of skid

In getting the victory that ended a skid of four consecutive defeats in friendlies and major competitions, Weiss and the Azkals have planted the initial seeds in what they would hope are promising signs going into the next friendly against Chinese-Taipei plus two more windows before the World Cup/Asian Cup Qualifiers.

Chinese-Taipei visits the Philippine squad on Monday at the same venue.

“The games against Nepal and Chinese-Taipei will open the eyes [to] what is needed, what is required and what positions that need to step up,” added Weiss.

Deyto was hailed Man of the Match for his performance in his long-awaited return to the Azkals after spending the last four years playing professionally in Thailand.

The 33-year-old Deyto was somewhat surprised by the honor handed to him after the game.

“We talked about in the meeting with the team that we needed to bring momentum to the Azkals and we want to put more belief,” Deyto said. “So this is the first part and it’s a good first step. We will get better in our next game.”