Filtered By: Sports
Sports

Azkals to try for crucial win vs. Vietnam in next AFF Suzuki Cup match


A win by the Philippines against Vietnam on Tuesday will give the Azkals the three points they need to rise from the cellar in the current standings in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012.
 
Ejected late in first game of the Philippines versus Thailand Saturday, Azkals coach Michael Weiss is now forced to think of ways to mentor the team from the stands during the next game time.
 
In the post-match news conference, Weiss said looking ahead to the next game, "We''l make the best out of it"

Weiss was ejected for throwing the ball at a Thai player laying on the pitch in possible injury or pain while the game clock was ticking and lessening the Azkals' chances of scoring another goal.
 
"I don’t blame the referee for the loss tonight...We did not play well enough in the first half and by the time we tried to come back, we did not have enough time,” Weiss said.
 
In his assessment of the quick adjustments that led to his team's lone goal, Weiss said,  "Our couple of changes in the second half paid off."
 
He added that Jeffrey Christiaens, Marwin Janwer Angeles, and Patrick Gerry Anthony 
 
Reichelt did well as substitutes for  Emelio Caligdong, Philip James Younghusband,  and 
 
James Joseph Younghusband. 
 
 "All three played well," Weiss said.
 
In its account of the opening match, the ASEAN Football Federation noted on its website that "expectations were undeniably high for the Philippines. Much has been written and said of them and their many European-based stars."
 
"The inclusion of several foreign players two years ago saw the Philippines reached the semi-finals the last time around. With more Euro-based players this year, the Filipinos were obviously looking for a positive result beginning with the opening game against Thailand," the AFF website report also said.
 
Thailand's coach Winfried Schafer acknowledged that they were aware of the Azkals strengths.
 
“Only one mistake tonight we did not shoot for goal number three,” he said. “I said before the game that Philippines had strong players with good fitness and they gave us problems especially early on," Schafer said.
 
“Philippines are a new power in Asean football and it was a good victory for us,” he also said.
 
Some Azkals sustained some injuries during the tough game.
 
Phil Younghusband assured fans via Twitter. "I'm okay guys. Thanks for the concern. Just 2 cuts above my left eye that should be okay. Lets look forward to the next game :) "
 
Juani Guirado also tweeted that he had cuts. "Thanks for the interest, I have two cuts in the mouth,  but I'm fine, I'm sad to lose, but the next game we win for sure," he said. — Earl Victor Rosero, GMA News
LOADING CONTENT