Kuwait Al-Azraq equalize with Philippine Azkals on 63rd minute

MANILA, Philippines—Midfielder Stephan Schrock struck a goal in the 48th minute but Kuwait’s Yousef Nasser pulled off an equalizer, 1-1, 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 to the group stages, but the Kuwaitis now hold an ever bigger advantage with the away-goal weight.

Even as Kuwait was 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.

Nasser also opened the scoring for Al Azraq in the first leg in Kuwait.

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 possessions in the first half, attempts from Manny Ott, Angel Guirado, James Younghusband and Chieffy Caligdong kept the Azkals attacking side on pace until Shrock’s goal.

Younghusband came up with a weak attempt in the 51st minute followed by a foiled header by Rob Gier shortly after.