WORLD CUP QUALIFIER: Syria spoils Azkals’ home turf advantage

By: Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

WITH 6 minutes into the match, the Filipino hopefuls burst onto the Panaad Park and Stadium in Bacolod as Javier Patiño cashed in an early goal putting the Azkals ahead 1-0 against powerhouse Syria in their World Cup qualifier showdown.

Azkals looked to pull off an upset against the Syrians with their inspired play in the early minutes of the match as they defensively wrecked the Syrian offensive scheme, predicting their ball passes for easy disruptions of the ball.

After 8 minutes into the Patiño goal, Syrian Omar Al-Soma equalized the match with a sweet goal, and the Syrian squad never looked back after their first conversion.

They gave the Philippine team a beating as the energized and sparked Syrian team gained their offensive rhythm and stated penetrating at will through the Azkals’ defense.

The Syrians handed the PH team a 2-5 loss in front of their countrymen.

During the 84^th minute, Mike Ott sliced through Syria’s defense and was able to put up a goal, but a comeback for the Azkals was out of the question as time expired.

Azkals will look to bounce back in their match against Guam, September 10, 2019.