In a hole, Azkals prepare for the game of their lives

This appears in the Tuesday July 26, 2011 edition of the Business Mirror.

In a hole, Azkals prepare for the game of their lives.

by rick olivares

Inside the dugout of the Philippine Men’s Football National Team inside the Mohammed Al Hamad Stadium in Kuwait City, the disappointment was visible on everyone’s face. The team knew that they faced a difficult task against Kuwait, the highest FIFA-ranked team they have faced since this current squad was put together.

For one half, despite being down a goal, they knew that they had played some terrific football that also put the fear of God in the Kuwaitis. In the media tribune of the stadium, Kuwaiti journalists were shaking their heads. “We cannot go to Manila with just one goal,” said one.

But Al Azraq adjusted their offense and defense to stymie the brave Azkals who were threatening to better their upset of Vietnam in last year’s Suzuki Cup. Finding the right flank almost impenetrable, the Kuwaitis instead chose to attack from the left. “Michael (Weiss, Philippines head coach) read us well and he scouted us well in the first half,” said Goran Tefugdzic. "More attacking on the left side gave us more shots.”

“We knew that it wasn’t going to be easy,” said midfielder Simon Greatwich afterwards. “But we should have not surrendered that third goal. Now we have to prepare and play like we’ve never done before when we get back in Manila.”

National Team manager Dan Palami, in a lighter mood as the team arrived close to midnight last Sunday night quipped, “They did not learn from Ojay (Porteria, a reserve on the Azkals lineup).”

Palami referred to an intra-squad scrimmage during the team’s final practice before the away match at the Mohammed Al Hamad where Porteria stole the ball in the midfield. Instead of closing him down the other squad’s defenders back up instead of marking him closely. Porteria blasted home a rocket past goalkeeper Paolo Pascual.

Against Kuwait, Al Azraq’s Fahed Ebrahim found himself the recipient of a cross by Bader Al Mutwa who had played decoy almost all match long. Instead of closing him down, Azkals defensive midfielder Jason de Jong and central back Jason Sabio sagged back on defense. The opening was all Ebrahim needed as he launched a shot very similar to Cristian Gonzales’ outside volley that sent the Philippines out of the Suzuki Cup competition.

“That goal made things harder for us,” added Palami. “But there’s a chance. It’s not yet over. As long as we keep our heads together and play perfect team ball, we should be in a good position to keep our run going.”

“The final result is not indicative of how the game was played,” said a chipper Phil Younghusband during the stopover in Dubai. “Hopefully, we can turn things around in Manila. It's going to be difficult but if we can score a few goals early on then we can put more pressure on Kuwait.”

The stopover at Dubai as well as the knowledge that erstwhile suspended players Aly Borromeo and Stephan Schrock will be available helped lift the team’s morale.

“We really have to focus and play the best game of our lives,” said Sabio at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The Kuwaitis despite holding the massive three-goal advantage, are wary of what can happen in Manila. “I hope it doesn’t rain there,” said Ebrahim during an interview at the Kuwait International Airport.

“We expect a strong match by the Philippines in Manila,” said Tefugdzic. “They will have big energy from spectators and it will be very difficult. Our goal is not yet finished.”