The frustration was palpable in Azkals’ Coach Hans Michael Weiss’ voice, as he summed up the Philippines’ ends in the primary two matches of the second spherical of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
“We should have four points from two matches. Instead, we have one point,” stated Weiss.
This precisely sums up the frustration felt by the workforce and its followers, because the Philippines may solely draw Indonesia 1-1, regardless of a dominating efficiency within the first half.
The unsatisfying draw comes on the heels of a 0-2 loss towards Vietnam, relegating the Azkals to 3rd spot in Group F of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
After the gritty loss towards Vietnam, expectations have been modestly excessive that the Philippines may flip issues round towards Indonesia, who confronted a grueling journey from the Middle East earlier than coming to Manila.
The Philippines began the sport brightly, with Santi Rublico working the Indonesian protection ragged within the first 45 minutes.
Kevin Ingreso made a return to the beginning 11, and his quiet presence in midfield supplied the Azkals a platform to go and assault.
Patrick Reichelt celebrated his 81st cap for the Azkals in fashion as he opened the scoring with a coolly taken objective within the twenty fourth minute.
OJ Porteria and Mike Ott would carve out probabilities aplenty for the Azkals, however a string of misses and the shortcoming to attain extra and successfully put the sport to mattress would come again to hang-out the Philippines afterward.
Indonesia, buoyed by a robust cheering contingent, would come alive within the second half and would take the sport to the Azkals, scoring a objective themselves and incomes a deserved level.
Truth be advised, with the way in which the Azkals performed within the first half, they need to properly and actually have put the sport past doubt. However, a scarcity of ruthlessness in entrance of objective had followers clamoring for a pure goal-scorer within the mould of the legendary Phil Younghusband.
Weiss spares no phrases within the post-match press convention, “It’s brutal. We have to deal with these disappointments.”
“We have to reset and see what we can do in March. I demand for everyone to be in top shape.”
Off the pitch nonetheless, the Azkals homestand was a particular success, with shut to twenty,000 followers in attendance over the 2 sport days.
The PFF’s attraction for ’10K Strong’ followers in attendance was acquired warmly, with hordes braving the weekday site visitors to cheer on the Azkals.
PFF General Secretary Coco Torre promised a celebration for the followers, and he duly delivered on his promise, with the PFF Fan Zone and Mess Hall offering food and drinks and leisure choices that have been warmly acquired followers.
This now units the minimal customary for the longer term Azkals matches and even PFL video games, and begs the query: Why wasn’t it achieved earlier than?
As the previous two sport days confirmed, construct it and with correct advertising and promotions, the followers will come.
On the pitch, nonetheless, will probably be a bit harder.
A solitary level from two dwelling matches shouldn’t be the most effective of begins, and with back-to-back video games towards Iraq up subsequent, plus journeys to Hanoi and Jakarta, it is not going to be simple for the Azkals to get the factors wanted to progress to the following spherical.
But having seen firsthand how the Azkals have performed in latest occasions, there might be positives to remove, even when the outcomes is not going to essentially mirror them.
The sight of younger Santi Rublico in full flight in an Azkals jersey hopefully for years to come back, would absolutely carry pleasure to many Azkals followers.
On prime of that, with veterans Neil Etheridge and Patrick Reichelt, amongst others, nonetheless main by instance, hope springs everlasting for the Azkals.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
