VIENTIANE, LAOS—Ian Araneta struck a hat-trick as the Philippines got off to a rousing start in the Suzuki Cup Asean Football Championship qualifying event by smashing Timor Leste, 5-0, Friday night at the National Stadium here.
Benefiting from the superb work of James Younghusband on the right flank, the Barotac Nuevo-born Araneta headed in goals in the 27th, 41st and the 57th minute as the RP booters survived a nervy opening 10 minutes to score the rout.
“It’s a good start but there’s still a lot of things to work on,” said team manager Dan Palami, who is bankrolling the RP stint here.
The 28-year-old Araneta also produced a hat-trick in the 5-0 crushing of Macau in the Long Teng Cup in Taipei last week.
“I’m happy for Ian (Araneta) and the fact that he is a local player speaks volumes of how much he has improved,” said RP coach Simon McMenemy, whose squad faces Laos on Sunday.
The Filipinos plundered four goals in the first half, but slowed down after the break and even almost conceded twice if not for the intimidating presence of co-captain Aly Borromeo and goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.
Defender Anton del Rosario also scored on a header in the 33rd minutes, three minutes after Phil Younghusband, who won a late fitness battle to earn a place in the starting lineup, doubled the lead from the penalty spot.
Phil’s older brother, James, proved to be a menace on the flank, assisting on three goals aside from drawing the foul that led to the penalty kick.
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