Borromeo, Schrock to bolster Phl defense in Manila leg July 28

KUWAIT – The Philippine Azkals expect to have their defensive line shored up when skipper Aly Borromeo and Fil-German Stephan Schrock report back to action for Thursday’s second leg against Kuwait Al-Azraq at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Pouncing on the Azkals’ relatively inexperienced defensive crew, the highly touted Al Azraq, winners of the 2010 Gulf Cup of Nations Championship, romped off with a 3-0 win Saturday night in the opener of their 2014 Fifa World Cup Asian Qualifiers second-round duel at the Mohammed Al Hamad Stadium here.

“If we’d have a complete lineup, it would have been a different story,” said team manager Dan Palami, whose side sorely missed central defender Borromeo and right back/right midfielder Schrock due to suspensions carried over from the first round against Sri Lanka.

“If you have Aly and Schrock back, I think we might just be able to create more opportunities in front. They were quite vulnerable in the counters and we’ll see how it goes,” he added.

Borromeo was ready to play the first leg until Phl’s appeal for reconsideration was junked on the eve of the match. Schrock, meanwhile, wouldn’t have been available even if he was cleared to play the opener due to commitment with second Bundesliga club SpVgg GreutherFürth.

“Schrock’s already confirmed his attendance for the second leg,” said Palami. “Tickets are there, it’s just a matter of him riding the plane to Manila. Yes, he confirmed (his participation).”

The Azkals are also trying to call up Fil-Dutch midfielder Paul Mulders, whose commitment with ADO Den Haag prevented him from playing in Kuwait. Same with Fil-Danish fullback/midfielder Jerry Lucena who was also tied up with Superliga side AGF Aarhus.

“We’ll try to get in touch with Paul; we’ll try Jerry as well and we’ll  see how it goes because they won’t have a game then with their clubs,” said Palami.