Early goals could make difference for home side

MANILA, Philippines - The Azkals are going for an early goal against the Al-Azraq today.

Dan Palami, the team manager of the over-achieving Philippine squad, yesterday said it could be the only way to pull off an upset.

“If we get an early goal it could rattle them a bit, and somehow it can contribute to us getting better chances,” said Palami.

The Azkals are facing a very difficult task of beating Kuwait by three goals or more to advance in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

Again, Palami said it can only happen if the Azkals get to the board ahead of the Kuwaitis, who are ranked No. 102 in the world.

“We need an early goal to build up our confidence, and maybe we can keep the Kuwaitis off their rhythm,” he said.

If the Azkals do, then anything can happen.

“You’ll never know. It’s been done before, and knowing what our team is capable of, we can still do it. But we need that early goal,” he said.

“It could spell the difference.”

The Azkals lost to Al-Azraq in an away game last Sunday, 3-0, and under the aggregate score, they need a similar 3-0 win just to send the game into extra time.

Palami said the Kuwaitis can just try to hold the Azkals off and away from the goal.

“Yes, if they are prudent then can try to just hold us by playing defensively. Then it might frustrate our players but then again it’s when they will be tested,” said Palami.

“We will play to win this match. It’s tough but it’s not impossible. And even if we don’t beat them with the aggregate, we will try to beat them in any way.

“That’s our intention – to try and show that we can beat them,” Palami added.