Uzbekistan game was lost in the first minute, says Azkals coach

Azkals coach Thomas Dooley. KC Cruz

 

Philippine national football coach Thomas Dooley feels the team lost its World Cup Qualifiers match against Uzbekistan right at the very first minute Tuesday night at Philippine Sports Stadium.

 

Just 43 seconds into the game, sloppy defending allowed Uzbekistan to take an easy shot at goal which slipped through Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and into the back of the net. According to Dooley, the opening goal dictated the tempo and boosted Uzbekistan's spirit.

 

"The thing is from the first kick, we started in the wrong direction and after the first goal in the first minute, everything that we actually tried to do was gone. That makes it very difficult, obviously they (Uzbekistan) got more confident," said Dooley.

 

"I told the players it could go on both directions; we have to fight, we have to play football and then we will have a chance. They are a great team, like I said in the press conference, we only have a chance if they have a bad day and we have a good day."

 

Dooley further cites that the national team needs to have high level matches moving forward regardless of the result.

 

"Everything that we have planned to do, after one minute was over," said Dooley.

 

"We need to play games like this. Friendly games where we can find out what we do wrong, what other teams are doing better to move forward." —JST, GMA News