Azkals pull off 1-all draw with Qataris

MANILA, Philippines - After a rousing win over Nepal, the Philippine Azkals settled for a 1-1 draw with Qatari club Al Ahli SC as they wrapped up their weeklong training camp in Doha early yesterday (Manila time).

Fil-Spanish defender Juani Guirado, one of the most unlikely to score for the team, came through with the lone goal for Phl, which was in control most of the way but just couldn’t cash in on its scoring chances.

Coming in off the bench, Guirado, slammed in a thundering header off a corner in the 67th minute as the Azkals finally broke through after missed opportunities from Jason de Jong and Simone Rota in the first half.

The Azkals, though, lost the upperhand 13 minutes later when hit by a counter by Al Ahli that forced the stalemate.

“It was a good test match for us, the score notwithstanding,” said Azkals team manager Dan Palami. “We dominated the game and was able to check most of the players.”

Dooley fielded a practically different starting unit from the one that hacked out a 3-0 rout of the Gorkhalis three nights before.

Custodian Ed Sacapano got his start this time as did defenders Anton del Rosario, Amani Aguinaldo and Andrew Liauw, midfielders Simon Greatwich and Ruben Doctora, and forward Nate Burkey.  The Azkals also played minus injured striker Phil Younghusband.

The Pinoy booters pressed Al Ahli early on and seriously threatened the Qatari keeper at least twice in the first 45.

De Jong rounded the goalkeeper in the 34th minute but his shot was cleared off the line by the defense.

Rota had his shot three minutes later but his foray went straight to the goalkeeper.

Sacapano took care of business on his end, making an excellent save to deny the home club midway through the second half.

Then Guirado found his mark and Al Ahli equalized in the dying stages.

The Azkals are set to take on Malaysia on April 27 in their first international friendly at home at the Cebu Sports Complex.