■ GREAT OTT! LATE GOAL SAVES THE DAY FOR THE AZKALS
Mike Ott scores in 89th minute as Azkals draw Yemen, to keep leadership, stay in contention in Group F of AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers
The Philippine national men’s football team was a minute away from losing to Yemen last Tuesday in Doha, when late-match heroics from Mike Ott saved the squad. Ott’s kick in the 89th minute, off a through pass by Paul Mulders, evened the score at 1-all. As a result, the Philippines remained at the top of Group F with eight points, while Yemen took second place with six. The Azkals will need to win against Nepal for a spot in the AFP Asian Cup 2019 in the United Arab Emirates. If that happens, it will be a first for the Philippine national men’s team.
Mike Ott’s late match heroics helped the Philippines keep its leadership in Group F of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup Qualifiers with a 1-1 draw with Yemen last Tuesday night at the Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
With the Azkals trailing Yemen, 0-1, Ott struck from inside the box coming from a through pass by Paul Mulders that beat Yemen’s goalkeeper Mohammed Ayash for the 89th minute equalizer.
Tawfik Ali gave Yemen the lead in the 63rd minute of the second half after scoring from a bounce, off a defender. He got a boot in and beat defender Junior Muñoz and goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.
Both team’s first encounter just a month ago was also as thrilling, Yemen got a 2-1 lead but James Younghusband scored a timely equalizer in the 71st minute to salvage a 2-2 draw at Panaad Park and Football Stadium in Bacolod City.
Tajikistan got a crucial win over winless Nepal, 3-0, in the other Group F match last Tuesday in Hisor, Tajikistan.
The Philippines remained unbeaten and at the top of the Group F with eight points, Yemen is also unbeaten and is second place with six points. Tajikistan is third with also six points, while Nepal is out of the qualifiers with just a single point.
The Philippines’ next assignment is Nepal on Nov. 14 in Kathmandu, while Yemen faces off with Tajikistan in Dushanbe.
The Azkals needs a win over Nepal to clinch a spot in the AFC Asian Cup 2019 in UAE, a first for the Philippines.
The Philippines beat Nepal, 4-1, in its first encounter back in March at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.