Do-or-die for Azkals vs Pakistan

Myke Miravite

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The Azkals batte for dear life against Pakistan.

BACK IN HARNESS? Phil might suit up after missing their first game due to injury. Photo by Rappler/Josh Albelda.

MANILA, Philippines — It’s do or die for the Philippine Azkals.

The national men’s football team face a tall order when they go up against Pakistan in the last day of the Philippine Peace Cup on Tuesday night, October 15 at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

With the team shaken by an earthquake early this morning, the Azkals try to bounce back from a shocking loss last Friday to Chinese Taipei and beating Pakistan by scoring at least two goals will secure the Philippines’ successful title defense.

Must-win

Against Chinese Taipei, the Philippines – despite missing strikers Phil Younghusband and Paul Mulders due to injury – still had firepower only to commit sorry misses. Against Pakistan, the two are reportedly returning to join Stephan Schrock, James Younghusband, Jason de Jong, and the rest of the team in an effort to flex their muscles against the much lower-ranked South Asian squad.

The vital part, however, for the Azkals will be their defense.

Neil Etheridge must put on his old self to silence critics about his not-so-impressive performances for the Philippines of late. Jerry Lucena, Rob Gier, Jeff Christiaens, and Jerry Barbaso too, must exert extra effort especially with the gaping hole the injury of Carli de Murga left in their backline.

If the Philippines has its Euro-based players, Pakistan has their own foreign-based booters too. Goalkeeper Yousoff Butt and striker Muhammad Ali – both plying their trades in Denmark – were impressive against Chinese Taipei over the weekend. But it was their British-born captain Zesh Rehman who scored the winner off a corner kick.

A 1-0 win for the Azkals will be a difficult one to bet on as the contest will have to be settled on quotients. A loss or a draw will hand the 2013 trophy to Pakistan. The best way to finish the tournament for the defending champions is to score a lot of goals.

The last kickoff of the tournament is at 7pm at the Panaad Stadium. – Rappler.com

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