Azkals bow to Lions, try to bounce back

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THE Philippines suffered defensive lapses in what English coach Stewart Hall described as “three crazy minutes” in the second half, absorbing a 1-2 loss to Singapore in a stuttering start for the Azkals in the AFF Suzuki Cup at the Singapore National Stadium last Wednesday night.

After holding the hosts scoreless in the first half, the Pinoy booters yielded two straight goals in that crucial span, the first on a nifty set piece with Hariss Harun towering over the field to head in the icebreaker in the 61st minute.

Just some two minutes later striker Faris Ramli scored the insurance goal, slotting in a cross from point blank range that lifted the Lions to their second straight win to top Group A with six points while dealing their rivals their first setback.

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Fil-Swede midfielder Amin Nazari made it close with a 69th-minute strike while veteran striker Angel Guirado’s potential equalizer in the 93rd minute was snuffed by Singapore goalie Hassan Sunny to preserve the Singaporean win.

“I really didn’t think we were beaten except for those crazy three minutes, throwing away 87 minutes of hard work. But that’s football so we have to live with that,” noted Hall a last-minute reliever for regular tactician Scott Cooper, who was unable to enter Singapore in time for the tournament’s start.

Newly-naturalized striker Bienvenido Maranon was a marked man and stymied by the Singaporean defense, but Hall said that this was just his first game with the Nationals so was confident he would be able to adjust and make a difference in the succeeding games.

“Perhaps he (Maranon) is not used to this kind of defense at this level of competition at the national level. But Bienve (Maranon’s nickname) is an intelligent player, a poacher and I know he will be able to make adjustments in the next matches,” the English mentor said.

The prolific United City Football Club forward’s scoring prowess will be badly needed when the Azkals face the Timorese, 0-2 loser to Myanmar in the other group match, tomorrow in what could be a make-or-break encounter for either squad.

“I believe our attitude in the last 20 minutes of the game was excellent and we could have equalized. That is something the build on,” said Hall in looking forward to the match against Timor Leste. — Bong Pedralvez

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