With a crew that’s virtually complete, save for suspended Chieffy Caligdong, injured Aly Borromeo and absent Stephan Schrock, and a full week more to practice together, the Azkals (149th) seem to have all the ingredients to steamroll lightweight visitors Guam (194th) in 7 p.m. clash.
But the battle is not decided on mere rankings or pedigree, stressed Azkals coach Michael Weiss.
“We always respect our opponents. No match is won with words. The truth comes out in the football pitch,” said Weiss whose team is hard-pressed to score a triumph befitting the caliber in its roster.
This will the be third friendly Phl XI will play in the Fifa’s so-called international match days for June.
Last June 1, the Azkals, minus Neil Etheridge (suspension) and Phil and James Younghusband (commitment), battled the Malaysia Tigers to a scoreless draw in Malaysia. Four days later, the trio returned but played as subs as the Azkals salvaged a 2-2 draw against Indonesia at Rizal Football Stadium in a match they actually had control of.
“We will take advantage of our strong offense but we will also focus on our defense,” said Weiss, who is expected to capitalize on the talents of the Younghusbands, Denis Cagara, Jerry Lucena and Denis Wolf to “attack early and put the Matao under pressure.”
The Independence Day match will be the Azkals’ first home game at Panaad since February 2011, when they hacked out a pulsating 2-0 conquest of Mongolia in the first leg of the playoff stage in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers.
“The support, warmth and love of the fans here before, during and after the game give us greater stamina and strength,” said Phil Younghusband, who earlier starred for the Phl under-23 team in the 2005 SEA Games also held here.
In the Mongolia game, Caligdong and Phil Younghusband sent some 20,000 fans in a frenzy with magnificent finishes, their home triumph serving as cushion to a 3-2 victory on goal aggregate that sent the Azkals to the Challenge Cup’s qualifying stage.
The Azkals eventually hurdled the qualifiers, reached the main tourney for the first time ever and eventually won a milestone bronze medal in the finale last March in Nepal.
The Matao are playing the first of a three-game slate in their weeklong trip to Phl.
“I expect the match to be very competitive and I’m looking forward to it,” said Guam midfielder/defender Anthony Paulino, an incoming player for University of Washington.
After the Azkals, the Matao will face off with United Football League clubs Global FC and Stallions, on June 14 and 16, respectively.
A familiar face will don Guam’s uniform in midfielder Jonathan Romero, a teammate of Azkals Jason Sabio and Lexton Moy with Kaya FC.
