Azkals yield to Bahrain anew, head for Kuwait

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals will go into the next big mission still reeling – but hopefully wiser – from their two losses in their brief training camp in Bahrain in preparation for their second round Fifa World Cup Asian Qualifiers first leg against high-ranked Kuwait.

Trying out different combinations in the absence of key Fil-foreign players, the Azkals found themselves at the losing end for the second time to Bahrain’s under-23 Olympic team, dropping a 1-3 setback early Tuesday (Manila time) at the packed Muharraq Club stadium in Arad, Bahrain.

Phl XI earlier took a 1-2 beating at the hands of the Bahrainis, who incidentally used the two friendly matches as part of their own build-up for the 2012 Olympics qualifiers.

“It was a good, tough last game with the team of Bahrain. It will give the boys something to think about as we head over to face Kuwait,” team manager Dan Palami said in a report on Gulf Daily News.

Enjoying tremendous support from the Filipinos throughout their Bahrain session, the Azkals closed out their camp and left for Kuwait last night. They are set to tangle with Kuwait on Saturday night (early Sunday in Manila) for the first leg.

“Tough loss but these games will help us come Kuwait,” said co-skipper Aly Borromeo, whose participation in the away match versus Kuwait remains doubtful as the Asian Football Confederation has yet to rule on the Filipinos’ renewed appeal to have his and Stephan Schrock’s suspension rescinded.

Palami said the team used the Bahrain sortie to test players in different positions.

“What we were trying to do again today was try different combinations; we’ve been missing two or three players who will be playing against Kuwait so we tried to mix things up a bit again,” Palami said, referring to the likes of Neil Etheridge and Paul Mulders who are tied up with club commitments.

Substitute Ahmed Juma’a, practically unmarked during a corner kick, headed the leather past Phl keeper Eduard Sacapano as Bahrain drew first blood at the 36th minute. Five minutes later, a streaking Hisham Mansoor blasted it home from about 12 yards to make it 2-0.

The Azkals got on the scoreboard courtesy of Chieffy Caligdong, who knocked in a well-timed and well-placed header to the bottom corner of the goal at the 44th. Caligdong was also responsible for Phl’s lone goal in their first meeting.

Sayed Dhiya Saeed then scored the last goal of Bahrain, finding little resistance from the Azkals’ defense as he dribbled into the box then rounded a charging Sacapano for an easy tap-in – much to the ire of Phl coach Michael Weiss who threw a bottle of mineral water in disgust. Weiss did not make himself available from post-game interview, according to the Gulf News Daily report.

“We had a couple of good chances, especially in the first half. But big credit to the Bahrain team; they are a really good side. Although, all in all, I think we played well ourselves, and we had chances of our own,” Palami said.