Azkals draw with India in international friendly

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals failed to capitalize on their firepower as they settled for a 1-1 draw with India Friday night in their international friendly at Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri, India.

Fil-German Stephan Schrock once again displayed topnotch form and helped the Azkals dominate possession and get better scoring chances but the Pinoy booters mostly fired blanks against the lower-ranked Blue Tigers.

Captain Sunil Chhetri put India on the board first with a thumping header off Mehtab Hossain’s well-measured corner in the 43rd minute, triggering celebration on the home side.

And while everyone was caught up with the euphoria of Sunil’s record-tying 42nd international goal, the Azkals quickly went on offensive, with James Younghusband feeding his brother Phil for the easy game-tying slot-in just a minute later.

Phil later scored off a low cross from Schrock in the 67th but was called for offside, to the relief of the Blue Tigers.

The Filipinos got some bit of luck, too,  as Jeje Lalpekhlua’s open header from three yards in stoppage time went over the bar.

“The last header which India missed luckily sailed over,” said Azkals coach Michael Weiss in the match report posted on All India Football Federation’s website.

Weiss said he would gladly accept the 1-1 standoff.

“We had more of the ball and created plenty of opportunities in the second half. We could have won the game but India can say the same as they missed a great chance in stoppage time so we are a bit lucky as well and therefore I have no complaints about the result,” Weiss said in another report on Sportskeeda.com.

The Azkals may have been also distracted by the depressing situation in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, Weiss admitted.

“My players tried their best but it wasn’t easy to concentrate because of what has happened back home. I still feel we gave a good performance and it showed that we are on the right track. I am happy with our progress and must continue to work hard,” Weiss told Sportskeeda.com’s Amoy Ghoshal.

The Azkals dedicated the game to victims of Yolanda and had endorsed a donation drive initiated by their supporters at Mercato in BGC coinciding with the friendly.