Kailangang manalo sa Vietnam do-or-die sa Azkals

BANGKOK--Huling nagtagpo ang Azkals at ang Vietnam ay sa group stages ng 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup kung saan gumawa ng ingay ang mga Pinoy booters.

Tinalo ng Azkals ang bigating Vietnam, 2-0, sa semifinal round.

Matapos ang dalawang taon ay muling makakasagupa ng Azkals ang mga Vietnamese ngayong alas-6:30 ng gabi (Manila time) sa Rajamangala Stadium sa group stages ng 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup.

Natalo ang Azkals, 1-2, kontra sa Thailand War Elephants, samantalang nagtabla naman sa 1-1 ang laro ng Vietnamese at Myanmar sa Group A.

“It’s a do-or-die game. Most likely, even a draw (today) and a win in the last game (on Friday) might not be enough (to secure a semifinal seat) so it’s clear the loser tomorrow will go home,” sabi ni Azkals coach Michael Weiss, magsisilbi ng kanyang one-game suspension da­hil sa kanyang “misconduct” sa kanilang laban ng Thailand.

“The draw with Myanmar is not a good result (for us),” wika naman ni Vietnam’s team manager Ngo Le Bang. “This game is very important. We want to win and we want to go further.”

Inaasahang reresba­kan ng mga Vietnamese ang Azkals matapos ang kanilang kabiguan noong 2010.

“Both teams will be going for three points so it’s going to be a really tough game. I think we have the psychological advantage. And every little advantage helps. If that psychological advantage can help us going to the game against Vietnam, then we’ll certainly take it,” ani Azkals manager Dan Palami.