Azkals defeat Singapore to open 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup

The Philippines gave the raucous crowd at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City plenty to celebrate about on Tuesday in a 1-0 victory over Singapore to open the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup.

Patrick ReichThe Philippines gave the raucous crowd at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City plenty to celebrate about on Tuesday in a 1-0 victory over Singapore to open the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup.Jaemark Tordecilla

elt scored the lone goal of the match at the 78th minute off a header from James Younghusband to give the Azkals the win.

But the home team, playing under new coach Sven-Göran Eriksson, had to survive some tense moments in the ensuing Singapore attack before holding on for the victory.

The victory put the Philippines in solid position to improve on its finish in the 2016 edition of the tournament, when the Azkals failed to make it past the group stage despite being a host country. The Azkals opened that competition with a scoreless draw against Singapore.

The Philippines will take on minnows Timor Leste for its next assignment on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur.

The Azkals will then move on to crucial matchups against Thailand on November 21 in Panaad and Indonesia on November 25 in Jakarta. —JST, GMA News