THE Philippines tackles dangerous Singapore to kick off its campaign in Group A of the AFF Suzuki Cup at the Singapore National Stadium tonight.
The Azkals tangle with the Lions at 8:30 p.m. following the other Group A match between opening-day losers Myanmar and Timor Leste at 5:30 p.m.
The well-rested charges of English coach Scott Cooper are expected to find their hands full against the hosts, whose morale will be high after their 3-0 shutout of the Burmese last Sunday to share top spot in the group with Thailand, which blanked the Timorese 2-0 in the other opening match.
Nonetheless, Cooper, appearing in his first Suzuki Cup as the Azkals’ head coach, was confident that they have a fair chance of beating the hosts on their home pitch, citing the contrasting performances of the two sides entering the tournament.
“We have won five of our last seven matches while conceding three goals while they (the Singaporeans) have lost five of their last six and conceded over 22 goals. Their last game was a draw,” the coach pointed out.
“We are committed to a plan that we have to roll sleeves up and fight and do everything we can to gain victories,” added Cooper.
He was hopeful that they could also duplicate the Azkals’ 1-0 win over the Lions the last time the two squads collided in the group stage in the 2018 edition when the tournament was last held, and which had to be rescheduled after the world was engulfed by the COVID-19 pandemic last year.
Boosting the bid of the Pinoy booters is the presence of newly naturalized striker Bienvenido Maranon, who is expected keep the Singaporean defense on its toes as he tries to make a difference in his national team debut.
“We will try to give our 200 percent every single game because we are not only fighting for a team, but we are fighting for the country. This is totally different from what I did before. I promised coach Cooper that I will fight to be the best player I can be in every game,” said the Spanish-born Maranon.
With top choice goalkeeper, Fil-British Neil Etheridge, unavailable for national team duty, that crucial role will likely fall on Fil-Danish Kevin Ray Hansen, who anchored Malaysian club Kuala Lumpur City to the Malaysia Cup title in beating Johor Darul Ta’zim 2-0 in the finals.
