Azkals back in Suzuki Cup semis after historic win over Indonesia

The Philippine finally booked its first-ever win over Indonesia, and the Azkals did it in style.

 

Phil Younghusband, Manny Ott, Martin Steuble, and Rob Gier all scored in the Philippines 4-nil victory over their Southeast Asian rivals on Tuesday in Hanoi.

More importantly, the win gave the Azkals a return ticket to the semifinals of the 2015 Suzuki Cup, giving the country its third straight stint in the final four of the region's top football tournament.

 

The Azkals pounced on every mistake to score the dominant victory over Indonesia, which had dominated the matchup between the two nations in the past with 19 wins and two draws.

 

Misagh Bahadoran started the fire for the Philippines, drawing a foul inside the box to give Phil Younghusband a penalty kick, which he sent at the back of the net at the 15th minute.

 

The Azkals scored again shortly after the second half opened, with Ott sending in a great strike from outside the D at the 52nd minute.

 

 

It was soon all over when the Philippines took advantage of the Indonesian confusion over a back pass penalty. That gave the Azkals an indirect free kick, which Steuble converted at the 68th minute while the Indonesians were still complaining.

 

 

Gier, the 33-year-old veteran, put the cherry on top of the sundae by sending in a rebound off his own header at the 78th minute.

 

The win gave the Philippines six points after their 4-1 victory over Laos in the opener.

 

The Azkals will wrap up its group stage campaign on Friday against host Vietnam. — JST, GMA News