Undermanned Azkals battle Icheon FC

MANILA, Philippines - A short-handed Azkals United side gets tested by a visiting Icheon Citizen FC club, the reigning champions of the third division in the South Korean football league system, in the KIA Rio Cup charity match tonight at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Several of the top guns will be missing due to club commitments, like Loyola Meralco’s Phil and James Younghusband, and Kaya’s Anton del Rosario, Jason Sabio, Lexton Moy and Nate Burkey, but the home team is expected to put up a good fight in the 7 p.m. tussle.

“We have a good crop of players, nevertheless, and I’m very positive we can do something tomorrow (tonight),” said Azkals coach Michael Weiss during yesterday’s pre-match press conference.

Azkals United will lean on Chieffy Caligdong, Ian Araneta, Angel Guirado and Misagh Bahadoran upfront along with Fil-German striker Denis Wolf, who will make his Azkals debut in the match, a fund-raiser produced by Dragon Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports for the benefit of victims of typhoon “Sendong” in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan and landslide in Compostela Valley.

But Weiss admitted he’s concerned about the defensive line with only Rob Gier and Carli de Murga on hand while Sabio, del Rosario and injured captain Aly Borromeo are not available. He said he might tap Nestorio Margarse and Boyboy Fernandez from the Under-23 team to link up with Gier and de Murga at the back.

Asked if the Azkals can beat the Koreans, the German mentor said: “Everyone can beat every opponent but under the circumstances, I have a couple of doubts. But we’ll see how we’ll play. I’ll still think about final lineup (that will play).”

Weiss and Fil-British Gier, also a consultant for the team, agreed that this match could provide the venue for the available Azkals to get more exposure than they usually get when Younghusband and Co. are there.

“This is a test match, a charity match. I don’t see too much the results. I see it as experience, an opportunity for players who don’t normally play too much to show what they are capable of doing,” said Weiss, referring to the likes of Roel Gener, Bahadoran and Eduard Sacapano.

Apparently being diplomatic, Icheon coach Hyun Chang Lee said they were impressed with the Azkals team that they read about in media and saw on video go up against Kuwait and Sri Lanka.

“I’m very nervous and very excited (to play the Azkals). We’ll try to do everything we can (to beat them),” Lee said through an interpreter.

Icheon Citizen will be bannered by skipper Joo Won Moon, the 2011 Korea K3 MVP and Top League scorer, and star players Ji Hoon Yang, a mainstay of the Korea National College Team, and Jae Young Jin, a Korean National Team player.

“This is a friendly match but we will try to be competitive,” said Ji.