NATIONAL men’s football team manager Freddy Gonzales still can’t get over the Philippines’ close 0-1 loss to Iraq in their AFC World Cup and Asian Cup Group F qualifying match last week at the packed Basra International Stadium in Basra, Iraq.
“Wow, until today I cannot seem to let it go. It would have been great if we had gotten a draw,” Gonzales said after the Pinoy booters managed to tune out the lively hometown crowd of 63,750 and held their fancied hosts scoreless for 84 minutes.
This was largely through the goaltending heroics of skipper Neil Etheridge, who managed to keep his poise in the face of the Iraqis’ relentless attack.
Frantic to save face, the Indomitable Lions finally scored the winning goal courtesy of striker Mohanad Ali with four minutes to go to seal their third straight win and remain on top of the group with nine points.
Indonesia stunned Vietnam 1-0 at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta the same night to move into second with four points, relegating the Vietnamese to third place with three points while the Philippines remained in the cellar with one point in three games.
“Imagine if we had drawn against Iraq? Sayang talaga,” Gonzales, a former national team standout, rued of the chance that slipped through the fingers of the charges of Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, revealing that the Azkals did not compete with a complete deck.
“The Baldisimo brothers, Matthew, and Michael, flew in from Chicago and didn’t arrive until the 18th or two days before the match. Matthew also had a shoulder injury,” Gonzales said of the two midfield-playing siblings who see action for separate clubs in the US Major League Soccer.
Also unavailable was young but talented Fil-Spanish defender Santiago Rublico, who was suspended for one match, while forward Sebastian Rasmussen, who plays for Danish club Hobro, arrived on the eve of the match.
Gonzales is hoping the national team can pull off either a draw or a win tomorrow at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
“We certainly need a draw tomorrow, perhaps even sneak in a win, with the help of the hometown crowd at the Rizal Stadium to keep us in contention as we head out again in June for away games in Indonesia and Vietnam,” he said.
The national team manager said he expects more reinforcements in June but declined to name them for the meantime.
The Philippines is bidding advance to the next round of the World Cup qualifiers while securing a spot in the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
