Azkals humble Myanmar White Angels

MANILA, Philippines - OJ Porteria struck in the second half and Neil Etheridge made a solid return in front of the goal as the Philippine Azkals eked out a 1-0 win over Myanmar Wednesday night in an international friendly at The Thuwanna stadium in Yangon.

Back in the fold after missing the AFF Suzuki Cup due to dengue, the 18-year-old Porteria made the most out of his scoring opportunity in the 77th minute, launching a 25-yard rocket that hit the back of the net and gave the visiting side a much-needed cushion against the aggressive home team.

Etheridge, another Suzuki Cup absentee, returned in his usual self between the posts and parried the assaults of Burmese, who clearly had created more chances in the friendly.

“It was a scrappy win. But we’ll take it anyway,” team manager Dan Palami said in an interview on ANC’s Hardball.

“We were lucky. They (Myanmar) had a lot of chances and couldn’t convert any. Much thanks to Neil Etheridge, of course,” he added.

Myanmar kept Fulham’s Etheridge and Phl’s defenders, including off-position Manny Ott (a midfielder converted into fullback), busy throughout the match.   

The White Angels unloaded 14 shots against the Azkals’s eight attempts, with nine on target against Phl’s five. Etheridge, who missed the Asean tilt due to club commitment, deflected with his foot a clear shot by Myanmar in the second half and palmed away another Burmese attempt as he kept a clean slate in his comeback appearance for Phl.

Ian Araneta, another non-participant in the last Suzuki Cup, actually gave the Azkals a second goal but it was nullified as he was ruled off-side.

It was the second straight win for the Azkals against the White Angels dating back to their semis-clinching 2-0 victory in the group stages of the Suzuki Cup in Bangkok, Thailand. It was also Phl’s first win on Burmese soil.

Both the Azkals and the White Angels are gearing up for the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in March. Phl and Myanmar will host two of the group qualifiers. 

“I could see we still have a lot to work on and we’re right on schedule in so far as preparations are concerned,” Palami told ABS-CBN, adding that the friendly with Myanmar â€œis basically to test the waters, how are we after the long break, how are we after the Suzuki Cup.”