Azkals, nakasampa sa Suzuki Cup s’finals

NAIPUWERSA ng Philippine Men’s National Football Team Azkals ang scoreless draw kontra sa Indonesian nitong Linggo para makausad sa 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup Gelora Bung Karno Stadium sa Jakarta.

“It’s not easy to play here, but I think we did okay. We were not brilliant but a draw is okay. Of course, we wanted to win the game, but I think Thailand had too many goals difference ahead of us. Well, we’re in the semifinals. We haven’t lost one game so we should be happy,” pahayag ni Azkals coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Dahil sa nasabing draw, mayroon na ngayong natipong 8 puntos ang Azkals at nasiguro ang 2nd place sa Group B, kasunod ng Thailand na may 10 puntos matapos selyuhan ang top spot sa pamamagitan ng kanilang 3-0 home win laban sa Singapore.

Lumamlam ang tsansa ng Azkals sa laro nang ilabas sa 23rd minute si skipper Phil Younghusband sanhi ng natamong head injury sa banggaan nila ni Indonesian defender Fachruddin Aryanto. Pinalitan siya ng kapwa forward na si Curt Dizon.

Ngunit, hindi nagpatinag ang Azkals sa harap ng mahigit 15,000 Indonesian football fans.

Nanaig ang kanilang disiplina sa depensa partikular sa midfield upang hindi bumigay sa home team.

“Probably we have to play better than we did today, but I’m quite sure we (can) do that. Now we have a week until (the) next game and that’s good because those four games came every three, four days. So having one week (rest) is good for us,” ayon kay Eriksson.