BOCAUE, Bulacan– Filipino-British striker Phil Younghusband saved the day for the Philippine Azkals, scoring on a free kick in the 82nd minute on Tuesday night (November 22) at the Philippine Sports Stadium.
After getting tackled by Zamrun Malik Zulkham, Younghusband unloaded a volley past a nine-man defensive wall, and over the head of Kurnia Meiga Hermansyah for the equalizer and a 2-2 draw with the Merah Putihs of Indonesia.
This kept the Azkals chances alive in their bid to reach the semifinals of the 2016 AFF-Suzuki Football tournament after they registered their second straight draw in as many games in Group A.
The outcome put them behind the defending champion Thailand War Elephants, who are in the solo lead following a 1-0 victory over Singapore in the first game.
The Merah Putih took charge in the 68th minutes when Boas Salossa kicked in a follow up shot.
A scoring chance came Salossa’s way when Andik Vermansah’s attack from the left hit the posted and ricocheted past Azkals goalie Roland Muller.
The match was tied at the half at 1-all.
The Merah Putihs struck first in the seventh minute when defender Fachruddin Aryanto moved ahead of Stefano Lilipaly’s free kick.
In the 31st minute, Misagh Bahadoran moved up front to intercept Stephan Schrock's free kick and arrived at the near post, blasting in the equalizer past two defenders with a left footer.
Three goal attempts by Mike Ott in the first 45 minutes of play got stopped by the Indonesia’s defensive plays on the right wing.
Azkals coach Thomas Dooley said with the result tonight, they have to try something new when they meet the War Elephants on Friday.
“Two-all is OK. They (Indonesia) had a couple of chances. But overall, with 2-2, we both can live with that,” remarked Dooley.
Merah Putih coach Alfred Reidl said they could have won the game. But they were unlucky.
Games on Friday (November 25)
8 p.m. — Singapore vs Indonesia (Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila)
8 p.m. — Philippines vs Thailand (Philippine Sports Stadium, Bulacan)
★★★★★
Thailand slips past Singapore, gains semis
In the first game, substitute striker Sarawut Masuk went on the attack with two other teammates in the 89th minute and his header carried defending champion Thailand to a 1-0 victory over Singapore also at the Philippine Sports Stadium here.
This sent the War Elephants to their second straight triumph, and assured them of a semifinals slot in Group A of the 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup Football Tournament.
He scored after Theerathon Bunmathan made a cross pass from the right, with Masuk waiting for the ball inside the box with teammates Teerasil Dangda and Adison Promrak.
Their attack materialized when coach Kiatisuk Senamuang gambled on moving Promrak from the back four side of the defense, and into the an attacking position with Dangda and Masuk.
“It was not an easy game. But you can see in the game, their players are good in defense. But, we shared players in the back four,” said Senamuang.
The Thais are set to play against the Philippines on Friday.
A three-game sweep by the Thais will earn them a slot to the World Cup in Russia in 2018. As an incentive, the top two teams in Group A and Group B automatically qualify for World Cup Russia 2018.
The two third placers will meet in a play-off with the winners facing a qualifier from Concacaf for another berth.