Azkals yield to Taiwanese in Peace Cup

Game tomorrow (Panaad Stadium, Bacolod)

4 p.m. – Chinese-Taipei vs Pakistan

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals suffered a painful 1-2 setback to Chinese-Taipei in a rather bland start in the second Philippine Football Peace Cup on a rainy Friday night at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod.

The Taiwanese made the Azkals pay for slowly coming back defensively as they knocked in two goals on the counter-attack that were enough to stun the Philippine side.

Lin Chang-lun pounced on the opportunity to race home and score the game-winner via a deflected shot in the 65th as Chinese-Taipei put itself into prime position to rule the tourney.

The Taiwanese will gun for the crown with a victory against Pakistan tomorrow.

Although the 141st-ranked Azkals were generally in control of the first half, the 175th-ranked Taiwanese jumped the gun on the hosts and put one on the board at the 14th minute with Li Mao beating an offside trap to chip it over Neil Etheridge.

The Azkals equalized in the third minute of first-half stoppage time with Patrick Reichelt heading a deflected cross to the area of James Younghusband, who then completed it with his own header. It was Younghusband’s 19th international goal.

Two starters missed out the match for the Azkals – striker Phil Younghusband and midfielder Paul Mulders, who were sidelined by calf and groin injuries, respectively.