Azkals 7s find groove despite lack of training

Members of the Philippine Azkals 7s.

SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA—The Philippine Azkals have used their time in the Asia 7s Championship to continue building a competitive squad with high hopes in the tournament.

The Filipinos were shooting for a spot in the final at press time here, hoping to hurdle Hong Kong once more and be in their desired form against either defending champion Japan or host Malaysia.

“We didn’t have much training back in the Philippines because [the players have] been busy with their clubs,” said Hamed Hajimehdi, the veteran Iranian striker of Philippines Football League (PFL) side Mendiola FC 1991, who was given the task to call the shots for the Azkals in this competition.

“But little by little, we’ve adjusted and I’m happy with how the team has performed,” added Hajimehdi as the Azkals won all three matches in Group B before rolling to a 10-3 win over Vietnam in Friday’s quarterfinals at EV Arena Elmina.

A repeat victory by the Azkals over Hong Kong, which they beat 6-1 in the opener last Thursday, would propel them to the title clash. Hong Kong made it to the last four after a 2-0 defeat of Brunei in the quarterfinals.

If the Philippines is successful, the team will book a spot in Sunday’s final against Japan or Malaysia.

Japan seems hell-bent on repeating its title run from last year’s event in McKinley Hill in Taguig City, coasting past India in the quarterfinals. Malaysia reached the semifinals after defeating neighboring rival Singapore.

The Philippines faced Malaysia in the group stage, escaping with a 4-3 win that ended on Stephan Schrock’s winner in the comeback period.

“Both are really strong teams, especially Japan,” said Hajimehdi.

Veteran national team mainstay Mark Hartmann scored four goals to highlight the Azkals’ dominance of Vietnam. He also produced the clinching goal in the comeback period.

Scoring two goals each were Arnel Amita and Patrick Grogg, who are with One Taguig in the PFL but are playing for the Azkals 7s with the league on an international break.

Meanwhile, the national men’s team which used to carry the Azkals moniker in the standard 11-a-side absorbed a 3-1 loss to host Thailand in the Kings’ Cup in Songkhla.

The Philippines tied it up midway in the second half on a left-footed strike by Bjorn Kristensen, his first international goal, but Thailand got the lead back as Suphanat Mueanta scored twice.

New coach Albert Capellas lost in his debut for the Philippines, which has not won in the last 10 matches. The Philippines will play Tajikistan for third on Monday, a rematch of their similar battle last month in Kuala Lumpur for the Merdeka Cup.