PH booters hope for favorable result as they face massive Thai test 

Philippine men’s football team playing in the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The Philippine men’s football team, already a huge underdog, will look to hurdle the challenge of being short in manpower against defending champion Thailand in the first leg of their Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup matchup on Friday at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Coach Albert Capellas’ side enters the 9 p.m. match hoping to get a favorable result in the two-legged tie even with team captain Amani Aguinaldo serving a one-game suspension, goalkeeper Patrick Deyto injured and veteran Patrick Reichelt retiring from international duty.

But the Filipino side goes into the contest having Santi Rublico back on the squad after skipping the group stage due to club commitments in Spain. Rublico has been part of the training session and team activities since the Philippines’ defeated Indonesia to qualify for the last four.

Quincy Kammeraad is also aiming to carry on his brave performance subbing in for Deyto behind goal against the youthful Indonesian team in Surakarta. Deyto has been ruled out of the tournament after hurting his right leg courtesy of a ridiculous tackle early in that match.

And with high confidence gained from the win over Indonesia despite so many close calls that led to three straight 1-1 draws in Group B, the Nationals are eager to secure a famous result against Thailand, the tournament’s winningest nation with seven titles, including the last two editions.

“The boys really dug deep and everyone’s gassed after pulling off an amazing victory [over Indonesia],” said director for senior national teams Freddie Gonzalez. “But I think everyone’s motivated to continue and go up against Thailand.”

Two yellows

Aguinaldo won’t play in the home fixture after getting two yellow cards in the group stage, resulting in an automatic suspension, leaving the Philippines without one of its reliable players at the back.

Whatever the composition of the Filipino team, however, the odds, at least on paper, are heavily stacked in Thailand’s favor.

Thailand topped Group A after winning all four matches, but not without encountering some minor obstacles, especially in the 4-2 comeback against Singapore, where the Thais fell behind by two goals, and a 3-2 escape act over Cambodia.

Three players have scored three goals apiece in Patrik Gustavsson, Teerasak Poeiphimai and Suphanat Mueanta, who is arguably the man to watch for the War Elephants.

“The 22-year-old has taken the competition by storm, scoring three goals and providing four assists in just four appearances, which has earned him a hat trick of Man of the Match awards—a truly remarkable return that puts him amongst the contenders to win this edition’s Most Valuable Player accolade,” the tournament’s website, aseanutdfc.com, said in a feature.

The same article mentioned Philippine midfielder Sandro Reyes as someone who has been the key in the Filipinos’ entry to the semifinals, not only with his equalizing goal against Laos, which is considered as one of the best finishes in the group stage, but also in the way he sets up opportunities as an attacking midfielder.

Reyes has also been the de facto emotional leader for the national booters, and fans have seen him as someone who could wear the captain’s armband in the future.

“I love the country, I guess. That’s it,” said the 21-year-old attacking midfielder attached to West German division club FC Guthersloh.

Bjorn Kristensen, who has two goals in the group stage all from the penalty spot, Paul Tabinas, Adrian Ugelvik, Zico Bailey and Alex Monis are also expected to play pivotal roles for Capellas, who has urged his players to believe in themselves despite the massive test that awaits them.