The undermanned
Philippine Azkals held the reigning AFF Suzuki Cup champions Malaysia to a goalless draw in their international friendly Friday night at the Shah Alam Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
It was a landmark results of types for the
Azkals, since it absolutely was the primary time that the Malaysians didn't beat the Philippines on home soil. it absolutely was additionally the second straight draw between the 2 nations once their 1-1 standoff last February at the Rizal Stadium.
The hosts controlled the match, obtaining a 62-38 advantage in possession, and had additional possibilities to attain, however their finishing was off all night.
The Azkals, who were while not the Younghusband brothers and 1st selection goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, virtually scored within the terribly 1st minute once a faulty back pass by the Malaysian defense was chased down by Stephan Schrock, however Malaysian keeper Mohd Farizal Marias barely beat him to the ball.
In the thirty second minute, striker Denis Wolf, back on the team for the primary time since scoring against Malaysia in that February friendly, had 2 sensible possibilities, a header from shut vary that simply lacked power, and a diagonal strike from the left that rolled simply inches wide of the proper goal post.
The Malayan Tigers came terribly near scoring within the forty fifth when Shahurain Abu Samah dispossessed Paul Mulders and got off a cracking shot to the proper of the Philippine goal, however keeper Roland Muller came up with a superb save to stay it scoreless at halftime.
Five minutes into the second , Malaysia once more had a golden chance to interrupt the ice when team captain Mohd Safiq Rahim’s dummy originated Norsharul Idlan Talaha for a transparent look, however the shot was wide to the proper.
The Azkals had a handful additional sensible tries within the second . A cross from Angel Guirado within the sixty fifth was cleared poorly by Marias and bounced toward an unmarked Schrock, however the Fil-German couldn’t get an honest shot, and also the ball sailed over the crossbar. 5 minutes later, substitute Marwin Angeles, in for Chieffy Caligdong, unleashed a left-footed strike from left flank that beat Marias however was simply slightly wide to the proper. Overall, though, the Philippines’ offense lacked creativity and fluidity, relying an excessive amount of on long balls and infrequently obtaining a cross in.
Muller thwarted many additional tight tries from Malaysia, however the goalless result wasn’t secured till the Malaysians’ last sensible try, an effort by Suppiah Chanturu within the box within the third minute of injury time, sailed high higher than the crossbar and out.
The draw against this Southeast Asian champions stood in distinction to the last result the Philippines had in Kuala Lumpur, a 4-1 thrashing within the Tiger Cup eight years ago.
The Azkals can host 2010 Suzuki Cup runner-ups Indonesia on June five at the Rizal Stadium, then war Guam on June twelve at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod.
