Tie with C-Taipei stymies Azkals

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals were forced to a scoreless draw by host Chinese-Taipei Sunday night, a second straight standoff that jeopardized the Filipinos’ title quest in the Long Teng Cup in Kaohsiung, Chinese-Taipei.

The Azkals also drew with defending champion Hong Kong (3-3) last Friday, thus earning a total of two points for third place behind HK and the Taiwanese, who carry identical four-point slates, with one day left in the four-nation, single-round-robin tourney.

The Filipinos face winless Macau at 4:30 p.m. today and for them to win the crown, they need to beat the latter by at least five goals and hope that co-leaders Hong Kong and Chinese-Taipei end up in a draw in their 7 p.m. encounter.

Azkals coach Michael Weiss said they need to “keep a very high rhythm from the start and go for a high score without neglecting defense” when they play Macau in the last day. 

The Azkals struggled on attacks against the Taiwanese in the first half and if not for Fil-German Roland Mueller’s superb job, would have conceded goals to the stubborn hosts. Mueller saved a long bomb by Chan Che Yuan, a low shot from Chen Po Liang and a one-on-one attempt by He Ming Chan to bail Phl out of trouble.

Veteran Fil-British Phil Younghusband and young Fil-Belgian recruit Jeff Christiaens had scoring chances in the second half but they were foiled by the hosts.

The Taiwanese utilized the offside trap in defending against the Phl, forcing the Azkals to nine offsides.

“We were not smart enough to beat the offside trap. We were a little helpless,” said Weiss.

Stats showed the Taiwanese booters having seven shots on targets against the Filipinos’ three, taking possession 57 percent of the match.

Still, Weiss believed it was a “decent game” for his wards. “They put up a great fight. But it wasn’t spectacular,” he said.