Sacapaño saves Azkals

CEBU CITY—A goalkeeping crisis is looming large for the Philippines in the AFF Suzuki Cup next week.
And there was third-choice keeper Eduard Sacapaño, one-on-one with one of Singapore’s deadliest finishers in Shi Jiayi from the penalty spot, with the entire stadium watching his every move Thursday night.

The penalty awarded was a controversial one as Khairul Amri appeared to have gone down easily on a challenge by Jeff Christiaens.
But justice was served when Sacapaño guessed right, reaching out with his right palm pushing Shi’s shot away to safety.

The remarkable save in first-half stoppage time marked the start of a sensational turnaround that led to a narrow 1-0 victory for the Azkals at Cebu City Sports Center here.
Played with plenty of attacking verve and drive in the second half, the Azkals pulled off their second win in three months against the Lions with substitute Marwin Angeles scoring the game-winner in the 54th minute in their final tuneup game before their Nov. 24 date with Thailand in the Suzuki Cup opener.
More than just a back-up

Proving he is more than just a reliable back-up, Sacapaño was a virtual wall in between the posts, keeping a clean sheet on the same day the availability of Neil Etheridge for the Suzuki Cup was thrown into jeopardy because of club commitments.

There is still a glimmer of hope that Etheridge would be available for the Nov. 24 to 30 tournament in Bangkok, but with Sacapaño producing a noteworthy performance, coach Michael Weiss had one less thing to worry about.

“I might play in the Suzuki Cup, so I need every confidence I can get,” said Sacapaño, who also gave credit to his backline of Rob Gier, Ray Jonsson and Juani Guirado for a solid and composed display. “My defenders gave me a lot of confidence.”

“I’m happy the boys fought so bravely, especially the man sitting next to me,” said Azkals coach Michael Weiss, referring to Sacapaño, at the postmatch press conference.

Weiss said Sacapaño’s performance did not come as a surprise to him. “It was not beyond my expectations but beyond probably of other people. I know that he’s made good progress the past year,” he said.

Thailand coach Winfried Schaefer was actually on the grandstand, scouting the Azkals, who turned up in style in the second half after Weiss sent in Phil and James Younghusband and Angeles.

“I think the first half was one of the [Azkals’] least spectacular performances under me,” said Weiss. “We were not aggressive enough. We were lucky not to be punished. But I think the substitutes changed the match.”
At the right place and time

With orders to push forward, Angeles, paired up at midfield with the excellent Jason de Jong, was at the right place at the right time to tuck home a misdirected shot from Patrick Reichelt, who got on the end of a Phil Younghusband cross at the far post.

Benefiting from his squad’s blistering display, Denis Wolf had a couple of headed chances—one that was saved by Hayrulnizam Juma’at and the other just denied by the crossbar nine minutes from time.

Sacapaño was alert to deny Shahdan Sulaiman and Shi in a frantic sequence in the 73rd minute, before proving equal to a curling left-footed free kick from 30 yards by Singapore leftback Shaiful Esah.

Even Singapore coach Raddy Avramovic was impressed with Sacapaño. “I think the goalkeeper did absolutely well,” said the Serbian.

Azkals manager Dan Palami said the win augurs well for the Azkals’ confidence.

“It’s a good win because it gives us a lot of confidence heading into the match against Thailand,” he said.