This time around, the Philippine Azkals national men’s football team’s game-plan worked.
Scoring six quick goals in the first half, the Azkals went on to pull off a 7-0 smashing of Timor Leste on Saturday evening at the National Stadium in Singapore.
“Get in front early because I want to use substitutions. Credit to the players, fantastic. We moved quickly,” said acting Azkals’ coach Stewart Hall after the team was done with their second game in Group of the 2020 ASEAN Football Federation-Suzuki Cup.
The Azkals ended up claiming their biggest win since joining the Suzuki Cup.
The Philippines, which scored its highest score with 4-0 win over Indonesia back in the 2014, has remained on track for a semifinal berth in Group A.
Long-time team member Martin Steuble opened up scoring for the Azkals, striking from outside the box in the 21st minute.
After that, Amin Nazari sank his second goal from close range in the 31st minute.
“We played with two strikers and got the results. We achieved all of our objectives so that was a good win for us,” said Hall in a post-game virtual huddle.
Thailand joined Singapore in the lead, posting their second straight victory with a 4-0 rout of Myanmar.
Later in the first half, another veteran in Angel Guirado headed in the ball in the 35th minute, before Patrick Reichelt struck in the 40th minute for the Azkals’ fourth goal.
Jesper Nyholm, who was unmarked at the far post, headed the ball into the net in the 45th minute.
Naturalized player Bienvenido Maranon added to the Azkals’ effort in the one-minute added time of the first half, with a close-range attack.
The Thais will meet the Azkals on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
“We go forward in good spirit. Thailand will be a different game,” added Hall. Peter Atencio