MANILA (9 Dec 2012) – Philippines will have the disadvantage of playing away and on artificial turf in the second leg after sharing points with Singapore at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex here last night.
Philippines battled courageously in front of over 10,000 fans but could not find their way through to pick up at least a goal ahead of the return clash in Singapore on Wednesday.
Singapore too had their chances and could have settled the score here but ageing striker Alexander Duric, Mohammed Khairul Amri and skipper Mohammad Shahril Ishak, like their Filipino counterparts, were off the mark. As a result, both team will have to take their fight to Singapore where only one team will walk away victorious.
“It will be a new game in Singapore,” said Singapore coach Raddy Avramovic after the match. “At this point, I’m hoping the players will recover and be ready for the second leg.”
The second leg will be held at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Wednesday evening.
In last night’s match, Singapore went on the hunt for the early goal. It took them just three minutes for their first shot but Shahdan Sulaiman blasted wildly. Singapore kept up the search and were relying on oldie Duric to help them. He in fact did a great job creating space for himself in the middle but was unable to head any of the crosses in.
Mohammad Khairul Amri broke through the defence but could not get behind the shot and made it easy for Eduard Sarpano to save it.
The hosts had their first crack n the 21st minute but after doing well to force his way in, Philip Younghusband was unable to get in the shot he wanted. A few minutes later and Duric was causing havoc again, this time he cut on from the left but his low shot whizzed past the far right.
Singapore had a brilliant chance in the last 10 minutes when skipper Mohammad Shahril Ishak exploded down the right and worked his way in. Khairul and Duric kept up with him and were waiting in the middle, unmarked, however Shahril’s cross was intercepted by a quick Sarpano.
The Philippines had a better account of themselves after the break.
“We played two different halves today,” said Michael Weiss. “It was a bit scary in the first half as we invited Singapore to come at us. I wish we had pressured them earlier like we did in the second half. Our midfield was not working well which was why I changed Jason (De Jong). When the midfield breaks down, you will start to play defensively and have little chance to attack.”
And Weiss was right, after replacing De Jong with Marwin Angeles at the break, the Philippines started to play better and took the fight to their opponents. The constant attacks riled up the fans and they began to cheers their heroes on. To their dismay, the goal they wanted so badly would not happen, at least not in this leg.
TEAMS
PHILIPPINES (White/White/White): Eduard Sacapano (GK), Robert Gier (cpt), Juan Luis Guirado, James Younghusband, Dennis Cagara (Jeffrey Christiaens 87th), Philip Younghusband, Angel Guirado, Carlos Alberto De Murga, Jason De Jong (Marwin De Jong 46th), Paul Mulders, Patrick Reichelt (Emelio Caligdong 78th).
Head coach: Hans Michael Weiss
Scorer(s): nil
Yellow: Dennis Cagara (83rd)
Red:
SINGAPORE (Red/Red/Red): Mohammad Izwan Mahmud (GK), Mohamad Shaiful Esah Nain, Mohammad Isa Abdul Halim, Baihakki Khaizan, Shahdan Sulaiman, Aleksandar Duric, Mustafic Fahruddin, Daniel Bennett, Mohammad Shahril Ishak (cpt), Mohammad Khairul Amri Kamal (Fazrul Nawaz 78th), Muhammad Safuwan Baharudin
Head coach: Radojko Avramovic
Scorer(s): nil
Yellow: Safuwan Baharuddin (39th), Mohammad Isa (52nd), Daniel Bennett (74th)
Red:
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Al Hilali Abdullah Mohamed Masoud (Oma)
Asst Referee 1: Al Mayahi Hamed Sulaiman Marhoum (Oma)
Asst Referee 2: Al Ghafri Saif Talib Saif (Oma)
Fourth Official: Al-Rawali Yasser Naseeb Saleem (OMa)
Match Commissioner: Dato’ Yap Nyim Keong (DOKL)
Referee Assessor: Thongpaseuth Phonesirignavonh (Lao)
General Coordinator: Joseph Samuel (AFF)
Pictures by Thananuwat Srirasant (World Sport Group)