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ANALYSIS

5 things we learned from Azkals' 2-2 draw with Yemen


Despite the absence of key players, the Philippines entered the AFC Asian Cup qualification match against lower-ranked Yemen as favorites to get the full three points and consolidate the lead atop Group F.

Yemen however, proved a tough nut to crack as it twice took the lead in the game.

New Davao Aguilas signings Phil and James Younghusband spared home side's blushes as they scored for the hosts,

The Azkals twice came from behind to level matters. In the end, the Philippines would be glad to earn a point as Yemen came close to getting the winner if not for a fine save for Neil Etheridge.

The Azkals still lead the group with seven points, but they have to improve significantly in the next three matches to ensure qualification to the Holy Grail — the 2019 Asian Cup in the UAE.

Here are five things we learned from the game:

1. The Azkals are still searching for a stable back four

Veteran Carli de Murga and Dennis Villanueva gallantly filled the void left by the injury to defensive stalwart Amani Aguinaldo and the suspension of the dynamic Daisuke Sato in the heart of the Azkals' defence.

But judging by their performances in the night, this was to be clearly going to a stopgap measure at best.

Championship side Cardiff City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge admitted after the game that we would go a long ways back to remember the last time the Azkals had a stable back four. The days of dependable combination of Aly Borromeo, Rob Gier, and Juani Guirado seem long gone.

It seems like, with injuries, suspension and player unavailabilities, the back four is ever rotating, which of course doesn't bode well for any team's hopes of continually keeping clean sheets.

The Azkals' defense is not inspiring confidence at the moment, and with Amani out for a sustained period due to the dreaded ACL injury and Luke Woodland's status uncertain after sustaining an injury late in the game, the Azkals's defensive conundrum leave more questions than answers.

Simone Rota could conceivably plug the Amani sized hole, but ultimately Dooley has to find the answers soon, which has been staring the team in the face when Gier, Guirado and Jerry Lucena retired from international duty.

2. More disciplined midfield movement is needed

Manny Ott and Kevin Ingreso play as the two deep lying midfielders in the Ceres' 4-2-3-1 system.

They reprised that same role for the Azkals against Yemen, but with varying degrees of success.

Often in the first half, both would move up simultaneously leaving centerback Carli de Murga, admittedly not the quickest of players, exposed by the quick Yemeni forward or drawn out of position by an eventual Yemen diagonal ball.

The lack of positional discipline was evident when Phil Younghusband and Manny Ott were paired in the Suzuki Cup. Yet the same issues hound the team even with different characters involved.

It was hoped that Kevin Ingreso would be the defensive foil and to be the balance the team needed when one of the two central midfielders went forward.

Thomas Dooley has to instill this discipline in the soonest possible time, or develop is version of Claude Makelele, most especially as the back four is having a lot of issues at the moment.

3. We still have to market the Azkals in Bacolod

It cannot be stressed highly enough.

Just because the match is being played in Panaad Stadium in the football hotbed that is Bacolod, it doesn't mean that fans would automatically fill up the stands.

Just because fans pack the stands whenever the black and yellow of Ceres take the field, it doesn't necessarily follow that they will do the same for the red, white and blue of the Azkals.

Fans need to be informed and yes, enticed to attend and make their presence count. A paltry crowd of 2,911 in attendance greatly pales in comparison to the more than 10,000 who this writer witnessed packed the stands when Ceres played in the AFC Cup.

Nary a billboard to promote the game was to be found, with Ceres' upcoming AFC Cup match the only promotional banners prominently displayed upon arrival at the Bacolod Silay airport.

When the Azkals moved the home matches away from Rizal Memorial Stadium to Panaad, they had undoubtedly envisioned a packed stadium full of rabid supporters.

The crowd was more than what would have turned out in Manila, but clearly more work needs to be done to get fans to watch live on a rainy night in Panaad, even if the venue is in football mad Bacolod.

4. Yemen came with a plan that almost paid off

After traveling a reported three days to reach the City of Smiles, travel weary Yemen's plan was to absorb the Azkals pressure and hit the home team on the counter.

And that was evident when Yemen exploited the Azkals lack of positional discipline and pace at the back and created numerous chances on quick counters.

This was best exemplified in Yemen's sucker punch of a second goal.

The Azkals lost possession in their Yemen's half and and immediately broke free on their right side.

With the Azkals slow to get back to their defensive shape, Yemen duly took advantage with a quickly whipped ball to the middle with no defender in sight, resulting in a Yemen goal.

Time and again, only profligate finishing from Yemen's counters spared the Azkals' blushes -- a more ruthless team would've put their chances away.

Despite the Yemen goalkeeper's open invitation to the Azkals to shoot (his performance at times inspired even lower confidence), the Azkals weren't able to take advantage.

The Azkals thus live to fight another day, but will play the reverse fixture in a few weeks time with a lot of points on the discussion table.

5. Fatigue may be to blame for lack or dynamicism

In the buildup and even in the aftermath of the Azkals's forgettable Suzuki Cup campaign, head coach Thomas Dooley lamented the state of the Azkals' fitness, stating as per fitness tests that the team was as as fit as an Italian youth team.

In the post match press conference after the Yemen draw, the same concerns were raised as one of the culprits when Yemen counter-attacked at speed, stretching the Azkals defense.

The Azkals know that was Yemen's game plan all along -- absorb pressure and hit on the counter -- especially coming off a grueling three day trip to reach Bacolod.

Yet at times, it seems that the Azkals on the field were the more fatigued team.

As the Azkals energy levels dipped, substitute Pika Minegishi changed the dynamic of the game with his pace and provided the proverbial spark.

While Dooley has his reasons for not selecting Stephan Schrock, he will miss the dynamicism the former Greuther Fürth man brings.

Misagh Bahadoran could provide a similar spark off the bench, but not against teams looking to sit back like Yemen. Misagh operates best with space behind the opponents' defense, something Yemen did not give.

A disappointing draw was thus the result the fans endured, as TV coverage for the Azkals returned.

A hard earned point could be crucial in the big picture for the plan of eventual qualification, but given that the Azkals now play two of the last three games away, the full three points would've been the ideal and attainable result.

Focus must now be in ensuring the best possible team is ready for the challenge of the same Yemen team in October. —JST, GMA News

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