AZKALS IMPRESSIVE BUT SETTLE FOR ANOTHER DRAW (PHOTOS)
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 28 Apr 2014
CEBU CITY ? The game was a peculiar mix of near-total control and frustrating inches.
The Philippine Azkals came out racing like thoroughbreds. They launched a speedy attacking game that had the Malaysian Tigers on the back foot. The Azkals fired volley after volley at point blank range; the scissor kick or the header would have been spectacular but both missed.
But the Filipinos knew they had the Malaysians against the ropes. But the Tigers somehow held on. They tried to counter but two attempts did not give Azkal goalkeeper Patrick Deyto any problems.
Midfielder James Younghusband orchestrated from the right side; Argao?s favorite son Patrick Reichelt was a crowd favorite. More incursions were made. The animated partisan crowd screamed for a goal but the crossbar was kind to the Malaysians.
The first half ended scoreless and the crowd grew restless as the Tigers became more aggressive. There were lapses and scary moments for the Azkals but they still dominated possession, chances and attempts.
Both teams fielded substitutes hoping for a boost. The crowd continued to cheer, pushing the home team to make another stab at goal. Sub Nate Burkey tried. But attempts that seemed likely to go in sailed past the crossbar.
Football can be a funny game and its gods often cruel.
During the dying minutes of the match, in what seemed like a handball violation, the Philippine goalkeeper found himself at the receiving end of a Malaysian penalty.
The crowd was on pins and needles. The Tigers? Safee Sali kicked but Patrick Deyto ? in a moment where time seemed to stand still ? stopped the ball from entering the goal.
The fans yelled themselves hoarse.
It was almost d?j? vu. Two years ago, goalie Ed Sacapa?o stopped a late first half penalty and a free kick in the second half to preserve the Philippines? 1-0 win over Singapore here in Cebu.
This time it was to maintain a stalemate. The final whistle blew with the scoreline 0-0.
Both teams got a well deserved applause. The island of Cebu is more famous for being the country?s boxing capital. Basketball also has a large following here. But Cebuanos, just like the rest of the Philippines, have learned to embrace the beautiful game of football.
Photos by Mary Jane Catriz.
POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Malaysia?s head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee was gracious in citing the improvement of the Azkals, how they played better and they had more of the ball, they played better in front of the hometown crowd. But he also stated that his team played good defense. He picked a more defensive squad for this game.
Philippines coach Thomas Dooley praised his team for performing like Manny Pacquaio, ?Always moving forward.?
Dooley did not want to dwell on the missed chances but would rather look at the team?s overall performance. He said he will still be reassessing who will be part of the team that will take part in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup in Maldives next month.
Deyto, who saved the day for the Azkals, said that stopping penalty shots are 50-50 and guessing right. ?I was lucky I guessed right.? But to the fans in attendance, it meant more than that.
This was the fourth draw between Philippines and Malaysia. It is sure bet that the next they meet it will be another nail-biting encounter.
FACE OFF 2: PHL AZKALS VS MALAYSIA TIGERS was held Sunday at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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