Chieffy, Phil team up to lead Azkals to victory against Singapore

On paper, the Azkals seemed to have the stronger lineup, yet the bookmakers made the Philippines 6/1 underdogs to win. The Philippines had not beaten Singapore in their past 14 meetings and managed just two draws in those while losing the other twelve. 

 

However, the last two years have seen a huge rise in the quality of Philippine football with the inclusion of Paul Mulders, Jerry Lucena, Neil Etheridge, and Stephan Schröck for this match.The Azkals were also on singing form, too, with the majority singing the entire National anthem in the opening rites. 

 

First Half

 

Neil Etheridge was called into action early as Shi Jiayi received a wonderful through ball and ran in on goal. Etheridge stood his ground and Jiayi shot straight at him when he should have done much better from only ten yards out. Let off the hook in the opening minutes, the Philippines rode their luck as Chieffy opened the scoring eight minutes into the match.

 

With Phil Younghusband holding the ball up and passing across to Stephan Schröck, the Hoffenheim defender quickly played in Chieffy Caligdong who was in space on the left wing. Chieffy cut inside onto his right and his shot was unconvincing, but it bounced high off a mound of dirt and looped over the Singaporean goalkeeper, gifting the winger his fourteenth goal for the Philippines.

 

Phil Younghusband could have doubled the Azkals’ lead in the 25th minute as he broke through and tried to clip the ball past the oncoming Hyrulnizam Jama’at in goal. The Loyola forward’s left footed shot wasn’t accurate enough, though, and it drifted wide of the goal. 

 

Singapore almost equalized when a corner wasn’t fully cleared in the 35th minute. As the host country drove the ball back in, Fazrul Nawaz beat his markers to touch it beyond Etheridge, but the Singaporean couldn’t beat the offside trap and the goal was disallowed.

 

Phil Younghusband had the next chance as his brother James headed the ball onto him. Clear of the defense, he knocked the ball just wide of the goal in what would have been a sitter had the offside flag not saved his blushes. 

 

Singapore again had a chance to equalize before the break as Shi Jiayi’s header was spilled by the Fulham goalkeeper, but Sabio twisted to head the ball away for a corner and preserve the Azkals’ lead going into halftime. 

 

Second Half: The Difference that Schröck Makes

 

Singapore brought in striker Agu Casmir to try and change the tempo of the game and grab a goal at the break, but it was the Azkals who scored the next goal in the 49th minute when Schröck beautifully clipped the ball over the top for Phil Younghusband. The Philippines’ top scorer showed his strength to hold off the defender and curl the ball into the far corner with his left foot.

 

Younghusband could have doubled his tally and put the game beyond doubt, but Hyrulnizam Jama’at dropped low to deny him. Schröck then, in the 57th minute, played another perfectly weighted through ball for Phil Younghusband to run onto, but his first touch was again too heavy and Jama’at dove at his feet to parry the ball away.

 

Patrick Reichelt came on the pitch for James Younghusband in the 63rd minute and played a clever pass for Carli De Murga, who chipped the ball up to the far post. Chieffy Caligdong ran onto the ball and lashed it at goal, but Hyrulnizam Jama’at once more pulled off a smart save, quickly dropping to his left and saving with his foot to keep the Singaporeans in the game. Phil Younghusband then made way for Denis Wolf whose first contribution was to get booked for a cheeky handball.

 

Misagh Bahadoran then replaced the first goalscorer, Chieffy Caligdong, with Rob Gier taking over captain duties just before Agu Casmir shot over with a half chance. Marwin Angeles replaced Paul Mulders next and Jason De Jong took to the field for Carli De Murga, as the Philippines wound down the clock to reverse Singapore’s 2-0 win last time the two countries faced each other.

 

Chieffy and Phil Younghusband may have got the goals, but Schröck should take the credit for a fine performance, especially in assisting both goals to lift the Philippines to their first victory over a home nation since their 2-0 win over Vietnam in 2012 to ignite the Azkals fever.

 

Man of the Match: Stephan Schröck

 

On to Laos

 

Tempering the victory a little will be the fact that the Singaporean squad suffered from a number of injuries before the game. Most notable is the absence of talismanic striker Aleksandar Đurić who has scored 25 goals in 47 games for Singapore. Yet defeating Singapore on their home turf will send a strong signal to the rest of South East Asia.

 

After this victory, the Philippines will be flying to Laos for their final match. For the Azkals to truly begin to say they are in the elite of South East Asian football, a win against Laos will be needed. After this performance against Singapore, the Azkals may take the momentum into the game in Vientiane this coming Monday, September 10. - RAF/ELR, GMA News