Win first, forget payback and revenge – Y’husband

HANOI – The Group A duel with Indonesia today presents the Azkals with a chance for payback for the recent heartaches dealt on them by the Merah Putih – a pair of 0-1 defeats in the semis of the 2010 Suzuki Cup and a 0-2 spanking in an away friendly in 2013.

But stalwart Phil Younghusband maintained that revenge is not their foremost goal in this duel.

“Not really revenge, just win the game,” said Younghusband, who scored his 41st international goal and made two assists as he captained the team in its 4-1 conquest of Laos last Saturday. 

“The thing in our minds is to get the three points (at the expense of Indonesia) and qualify (for the semis),” he said.

A win over the Merah Putih will give the Pinoy booters six points and a guaranted third straight Final Four appearance with still a game left in group play.

It will also jeopardize the semis quest of Indonesia, which had one point to show after a 2-2 draw with host Vietnam in the opening day.

“After the game, if we get the job done, we can talk (about revenge) and say yeah, we finally beat Indonesia. But for now, most important is win the game and get the three points so we qualify,” Younghusband said.

Since 2010, the Azkals managed a 2-2 draw at best in their last four faceoffs with Indons, doing it in 2012 in a rugged friendly at Rizal Memorial.

Indonesia captain Firman Utina, who was there in 2010, said the Azkals have progressed.

“The Philippine team is good, very strong and compact,” said Utina, who admitted that his side isn’t as well-prepared for this tourney as it was in their 2010 duel.