AZKALS FACE MALAYSIA IN RIZAL TONIGHT

The PHL to field stronger squad vs. Malaysia in a friendly tonight to improve its scoreless draw finish in 2014 The match is part of the Azkals’ preparation for the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup 2019 qualifiers

The Philippines Azkals will see action in friendly match against Malaysia tonight at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

The Philippines is fielding a stronger squad this time, compared to its roster in Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup last year.

Some of the key players that the team missed in the Suzuki Cup campaign - star goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, defender Daisuke Sato and striker Javier Patiño - are set to suit up for the friendly.

The team is composed of mostly Ceres Negros FC and Global Cebu FC players, which are deep into the Asian Football Confederation Cup.

The Ceres Negros FC players suiting up for the Azkals are Jeffrey Chirstiaens, Carli De Murga, Kevin Ingreso, Roland Müller, Jim Muñoz, Manny Ott, OJ Porteria, Iain Ramsay, Martin Steuble and Luke Woodland. The Global Cebu FC players are Misagh Bahadoran, Amani Aguinaldo, Patrick Deyto, Hikaru Minegishi and Dennis Villanueva.

Azkals mainstay Philip and James Younghusband are also with the team along with Fitch Arboleda, Kenshiro Daniels and Mike Ott.

The Azkals last faced Malaysia here in Cebu in 2014. The match in the Cebu City Sports Center ended in a scoreless draw.

The friendly tonight is part of the Philippines' preparation for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup 2019 qualifiers.

The Azkals' first assignment in the tournament is against Nepal on March 28. The Philippines is in Group F with Nepal, Tajikistan and Yemen.