Azkals end World Cup Qualifiers campaign with Maldives stalemate

June 16 ------ The Philippine Azkals ended their joint 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a 1-1 draw against Maldives, early Wednesday morning Manila time, at the Sharjah Stadium in Sharjah, UAE. The result leaves Scott Cooper’s team at 3rd place in Group A with 11 points on the back of three losses and wins alongside two draws. The final tally is a point more than what the country achieved in the same joint qualification round of the previous editions of both tournaments.

Despite having already secured passage into the final qualifying round of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, the Filipinos started aggressively and successfully broke the deadlock 19 minutes into the contest. Angel Guirado clinched his 10th goal in national team colors when he volleyed the ball past Maldives goalie Mohamed Faisal. However, the Azkals suffered a setback six minutes later when Maldivian forward Ali Fasir eluded the Philippine backline to draw level with a fine strike away from the hands of Filipino stopper Bernd Schipmann.

Come the second half, the Filipinos had the bulk of the possession but failed to make the most of it in the final third. Substitute midfielder Mike Ott had a sniff at goal but his attempt went straight towards Faisal. Debutant defender Mar Vincent Diano had a header that went off target while skipper Stephan Schrock shot wide late in the game. Just before the end of halftime, Cooper brought on Kevin Ray Hansen for Schipmann, Mike Ott for Guirado, and Martin Steuble for Mark Winhoffer. Jarvey Gayoso, and Diano then replaced Mark Hartmann and Justin Baas respectively deep in the second half.

Source: tiebreakertimes.com