Football
U-22 Azkals lose to Cambodia, 5-1
The Philippine national Under-22 men’s football team succumbed to Cambodia, 5-1, in a friendly match Wednesday at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.
The U-22 Azkals found themselves in a 2-0 hole after the first half as they failed to neutralize the Cambodia, who scored early goals in the third and the 14th minute.
The Cambodians continued its onslaught in the second half, hitting the net in the 52nd and the 79th minute to grab a commanding 4-0 lead in the match.
OJ Porteria finally shattered the U-22 Azkals silence as he scored in the 87th minute, but they yielded another goal to the Cambodian side in the 90th minute.
The loss marks the third defeat the Philippines has suffered in its training camp. They already lost two friendly matches in Thailand last week.
After Cambodia, the U-22 Azkals will also face Maldives on June 17 as part of their preparations for the Asian Football Confederation U-22 Asian Cup qualifiers in Yangon, Myanmar from June 23 to July 3.
The Philippines is drawn in Group G with South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar and Chinese Taipei. Only the top two teams from each group, as well as the best third-placer of the tournament, will advance to the inaugural U-22 Asian Cup in 2013.
