Phil makes penalty goal, Etheridge saves, but Kuwait slips past Azkals, 2-1

Penalties and saves proved crucial in the FIFA-sanctioned friendly between the Philippines and Kuwait, who won 2-1 after their penalty kick converted into a match-deciding goal in the 70th minute.   Ten minutes earlier, Phil Younghusband’s penalty kick was the equalizer to a goal Kuwait sent in the 35th minute. Younghusband was not in the starting eleven of the Philippines’ men’s senior national football team, the Azkals. He came in at the 38th minute to substitute for Marwin Janver Angeles. Several times throughout the match, PHL goalkeeper Neil Etheridge thwarted attempts by Kuwait.     The Azkals kept up with Kuwait, limiting them who were ranked 35 spots higher (112th) to only one goal scored by halftime. Bader Al-Mutwa scored at the 35th minute to put his team on the board.   Then at the 69th minute, the referee gave Hamad Al-Enezi a chance to put Kuwait ahead on a penalty. The 26-year-old Kuwaiti forward didn't disappoint the home crowd. It was a 2-1 with 20 minutes left in regulation.   The Azkals came into the match raring to avenge their 2014 World Cup Qualifiers loss to Kuwait in 2011. Back then, the Philippines dropped the first leg of the two game series in Kuwait 3-0, before suffering a 2-1 defeat at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum July last year. Wednesday’s friendly is part of the Azkals' Middle East training camp in preparation for the Suzuki Cup of the ASEAN Football Federation which will get underway on November 24.  But before that, the Azkals will face Singapore in Cebu City in another friendly on November 15. In the group stage of the AFF Suzuki Cup, the Philippines is pitted against Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar, while Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Laos are in Group B. The Azkals' group stage matches will be on November 24 (versus Thailand), November 25 (versus Vietnam) and November 28 (versus Myanmar). These matches will be held in Thailand. The semifinals and finals will have home and away matches. If the Azkals advance from the group stage, they would have at least one home game.  — Renee A. Fopalan/ELR, GMA News