VIENTIANE, LAOS—The Philippines looks to advance to the Suzuki Cup Asean Football Championship main tournament today as it clashes with host Laos in their second match of the four-nation qualifying event at the National Stadium here.
The RP booters, coming off a morale boosting 5-0 victory over lightweight Timor Leste Friday night, face their toughest yet in the Laotians, who have made it past the qualifying stages in the past two tournaments.
The Laotians, who beat the Filipinos, 2-1, in Bacolod City four years ago, are hard-pressed to secure maximum points after an uninspiring scoreless draw against Cambodia Friday night that left the Philippines alone on top with three points.
“We’re expecting a tough match against Laos, probably our toughest here,” said the RP team’s English coach Simon McMenemy.
“But if we play the way we played against Timor Leste, I think we will have a good chance. Morale is high because of the Timor Leste win and the solid backing of the management,” added McMenemy.
Striker Ian Araneta, one of only four local-bred players in the starting 11, is in fine form, scoring seven goals in the past three games, including a hat-trick of headers against Timor Leste.
“Ian has gotten bigger and stronger and his performance will be very instrumental for us,” Palami said of the Barotac Nuevo-born Araneta. “His confidence is really on a high.”
A win over Laos will assure the Filipinos of one of the two spots for the main draw in Indonesia and Vietnam.
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