Azkals crush Laos to reach Gold Cup semis
The Philippine Azkals earned an thrashing Laos, 3-1, on Wednesday night at the Sylhet Zila Stadium in Bangladesh. Displaying aggression throughout the match, the men’s national football team erected a three-goal lead en route to its maiden win in the six- nation tilt. The Azkals under coach
Scott Cooper’s Azkals accomplished the feat despite the absence of star striker Phil Younghusband, goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, James Younghusband, Iain Ramsay and Javier Patiño.
The Philippines grabbed the Group B lead with three points and a superior goal difference over host Bangladesh, which downed Laos, 1-0, in the opening game last Monday.
The Filipinos and the Bangladeshis will dispute the top spot tonight at 6:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. in Manila) at the same venue. Laos, on the other hand, crashed out of the competition with a winless slate in two games.
It was a brilliant start for the aggressive Azkals as Jovin Bedic slammed in a penalty kick after absorbing a violent tackle by Kaharn Phetsivilay inside the box in the 44th minute.
Laos almost equalized the score after the break but shotstopper Michael Casas foiled their foes’ attempt.
Jarvey Gayoso doubled the lead in the 53rd as the stalwart striker headed home Hikaru Minegishi’s delivery from a tight angle.
The PH XI sealed the win after Misagh Bahadoran converted another shot from the spot in the 82nd following Souksan Souksavath’s handball violation on substitute Paolo Salenga’s right-wing cross.
Phitack Kongmathilath scored a consolation goal for the Laotians before bowing out of the tournament.