Another goal for Kuwait Al-Azraq to take 2-1 lead against Philippine Azkals

MANILA, Philippines— Kuwait’s Yousef Nasser equalized even as Waleed Ali doubled it to give Kuwait a 2-1 lead over the Philippines in the second leg, second round of the 2014 Fifa World Cup Qualifiers Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

The Azkals needed at least four goals and not concede in order to advance, but the Kuwaitis now hold an ever bigger advantage with the away goal weight.

Even as Kuwait as deduced to 10 men after one of them was sent off because of a nasty tackle on striker Chieffy Caligdong, Nasser found a way to sneak one back in the 63rd minute.

Waleed Ali scored in the 84th minute for Al-Azraq, as Philippines’ Ray Jonson accidentally stirred the goal into the own net as he was going for the clear.

Midfielder Stephan Schrock gave the Philippines its first goal in the 48th minute to open the scoring, but no one from the Azkals has followed up since.

It was Shrock’s maiden goal for the Philippine side since he made his debut with the Azkals this year.

Although the Kuwaitis got the lion’s share of possesions in the first half, attempts from Manny Ott, Angel Guirado, James Younghusband and Chieffy Caligdong also kept the Azkals attacking side on pace.