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| photos by Ilongo United FC |
MANILA, Philippines - Thanks to the United Football League All-Stars, the Philippine Azkals realized they still have a lot to work on to be ready for the World Cup qualifier.
The Azkals saw their romp come to an end at the hands of the UFL Stars, suffering a heartbreaking 3-4 loss in a test match last night at the University of Makati football field.
Global Smartmatic’s Izzeldin Elhabbib, the top scorer in the recently concluded 2011 UFL tourney, booted in the winning goal in the dying seconds of the match watched by a cheering crowd of about 10,000.
It was actually an all-Azkals show until they committed a grievous error, paving the way for a goal by Eric Dagroh on a three-against-two attack in the 41st minute.
A save by goalie Edmundo Mercado some two minutes later kept it 1-1 at the half.
A free kick sent in Mark Harmann in the 52nd further energized the UFL Stars, enabling them to fight the Azkals toe-to-toe.
“It’s a clear indication that we have to improve,” said Azkals coach Michael Weiss.
“It may sound ridiculous but we actually dominated the match. They had four tries and they scored each one. We lost a match that we shouldn’t have lost,” Weiss said.
Weiss was impressed of the UFL players that he didn’t rule out considering some of them for the Philippine team set to play Sri Lanka in the first stage of the World Cup qualifier late this month.
“I saw good players. We have to think about them (for the Azkals),” said Weiss.
Dagroh, an Ivory Coast national, accounted for UFL’s two goals, the second one breaking the 2-all standoff in the 75th minute.
A header by Ian Araneta on a long pass by Chippy Caligdong forced the game’s third and last tie in the 85th minute.
The match, supported by LBC Express Inc., served as the special event of the 2011 UFL awards ceremony.
The 1991 Philippine team was presented to the public at the half. This team stunned the then defending champion Malaysia in the 1991 SEA Games at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. Source
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