GAME TODAY(New Clark City Stadium)
7 p.m. – Philippines vs. Tajikistan
THRUST into the hot seat with the sudden resignation of Albert Capellas, Spanish compatriot Carles Cuadrat will call the shots for the national men’s football team in a critical AFC Asian Cup Group qualifying match today, Tuesday, at the New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
Cuadrat will be at the helm of the Filipino booters, who will eye their second straight win when they battle the Tajiks at 7 p.m. for the top spot in the group and enhance their prospects of qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in January 2027.
Both squads have three points apiece, but the hosts have the better +3 goal difference after whipping the Maldives 4-1 in their opening game at the same arena last March. Meanwhile, the visitors are +1 after beating Timor Leste on the same date in the Tajik city of Dushanbe.
Besides having the hometown edge, working in favor of the Philippines is the return of top Fil-German striker Gerrit Holtmann, whose offensive skills will surely be needed against a side ranked No. 104 in the latest FIFA men’s world rankings, or 42 spots higher than their rivals.
Also seeing action are gifted midfielders Randy Schneider and Sandro Reyes, Zico Bailey and Josef Baccayand top defenders Amani Aguinaldo, plus siblings Paul and Jeff Tabinas, Santi Rublico, Bjorn Kristensen, and Zico Bailey and Josef Baccay.
Up front are veteran striker Jarvey Gayoso, debuting Dylan Demuynck, Andrei Lepold and Bjorn Kristensen, among others.
“Tajikistan made the quarterfinals of the last Asian Cup. The Tajiks are the top seed in our group for a reason. But if we want to achieve our goal of qualification, these are the type of games we need to savor,” national team manager Freddy Gonzalez said earlier.
The Tajiks will be eyeing revenge after absorbing a 0-3 beating at the hands of the Filipinos last September 2024 in the Thai King’s Cup in Bangkok, Thailand.
Meanwhile, the Filipinas found themselves bracketed in the relatively lighter Group B with Myanmar, Australia and Timor Leste after the Asean MISG draw in Hanoi, Vietnam yesterday.
Group A will be composed of four-time champion Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia.
The charges of Marc Torcaso will defend the title they clinched in 2022 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium by beating the Thais in the finals.
The event starts on Aug. 6 in the Vietnamese cities of Phu To and Hai Phong.
