Azkals in scoreless draw with Cambodia

VIENTIANE, Laos – The Philippines put up a gallant defensive stand to come away with a scoreless draw against Cambodia last night in the Suzuki Cup Asean Football Championship Qualifying event at the National Stadium here.

Needing a draw to advance, the Filipinos got the result they needed with its defense stepping up to hold the desperate Cambodians and leave them at the mercy of the result of the Laos-Timor Leste match.

The RP booters finished with five points, after a 5-0 win over Timor Leste and back-to-back draws to Laos and Cambodia. They failed to qualify in the 2008 tournament, after getting nosed out by Cambodia on goal difference in Phnom Penh.

“It’s very rewarding that the program we started has achieved its target,” said team manager Dan Palami.

“We know it was going to be hard, but the players worked very hard to get to this level.”

The back four of Anton del Rosario, Rob Gier, Aly Borromeo and Ray Jonnson were up to the Cambodian challenge just like RP goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and the Filipinos hung tough to secure the draw.

The Filipinos were forced to make two changes to the side that drew with Laos, 2-2, because of injuries and suspension. Jonnson moved up to the left wing position occupied by the injured Chiefy Caligdong, who managed to play through the pain in the last 40 minutes in place of David Basa.

Army man Roel Gener also made his first start in the tournament, replacing the suspended Jason de Jong. Cedelf Tupas provides live coverage from the Suzuki Cup in Laos. Thanks, buddy!