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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Azkals yield to Malaysia

Azkals yield to Malaysia

Published Mar 24, 2022 02:45 pm

Photo from PFF

The Philippine Azkals’ campaign in the Tri-Nations series got off to a terrible start after being handed a 2-0 defeat by Malaysia Wednesday, March 23 at Singapore’s National Stadium.

Back in the Lion City for the first time since the AFF Suzuki Cup, the Azkals saw themselves fall behind as early as three minutes after kickoff when Akhyar Rashid scored the opener for Malaysia.

Akhyar doubled the lead in the 24th minute for Harimau Malaya, and the scoreline stood the final whistle as the Azkals were groping for form despite a souped-up lineup that came for the mini-tournament.

It was a performance that left plenty to be desired despite the match being a friendly as the Azkals were looking to use the series to prepare for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in June.

Despite the last-minute pullout of German Bundesliga mainstay Gerrit Holtmann after testing positive for Covid-19, the Azkals still had some of the veterans like team captain Stephan Schrock and goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, back in a Philippine shirt for the first time since Oct. 2019.

Naturalized player Bienvenido Maranon was also in the starting lineup, as were long-time players Carli de Murga, Manny Ott, Patrick Reichelt and Iain Ramsay plus Patrick Strauss and debutants Enrique Linares and Diego Bardanca.

The Azkals wrap up the series on March 29 when they face host Singapore in the rematch of their Suzuki Cup group stage match last December won by the latter, 2-1.

But Singapore will first play Malaysia on March 26 as part of the series.

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