Football
Australia U-23 fends off hard-fighting Azkals
The Philippine national men’s football team gave Australia’s Under-23 squad a good fight before succumbing, 1-0, in their friendly match Thursday at the Al Maktoum stadium in Dubai.
Jason Hoffman scored the match’s lone goal at the 11th minute for the Olyroos, which had to contend with a spirited Azkals squad playing without starters Phil and James Younghusband.
The Azkals started the game tentatively, allowing Hoffman to head in a goal early on a cross from Aziz Behich. But the Philippine side quickly settled down and played well defensively for the rest of the first half.
In the second half, Stallion stalwart Reuben Doctora Jr. came into the game for Ian Araneta, and the substitution opened the pitch up for the Azkals. The Filipinos showed much more energy, starting several attacks that surprised the Australians.
Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss, notorious for hardly ever going to his bench, made several more substitutions toward the end of the match, sending in Kaya players Joshua Beloya and Lexton Moy. The duo almost hooked up for the game-tying goal at the 88th minute, but Beloya missed the shot, allowing the Olyroos to escape with the win.
It was the third and last match for the Azkals in their 10-day Middle East tour. The squad opened its campaign with a 3-0 loss to the Uzbekistan Under-23 team before rebounding with a victory over Qatar club Al Ahli, 3-1.
