Azkals play Tigers to another draw

CEBU CITY , Philippines   â€“ The Philippine Azkals came out charging but fired blanks and needed a spectacular save by keeper Patrick Deyto on a penalty kick as they settled for another scoreless draw with the visiting Tigers last night at the Cebu Cty Sports Center.

Pushing forward virtually from the get-go in a spirited bid to give local fans an evening to remember in their first home game this year, the Azkals repeatedly threatened to score but failed to convert, with Nate Burkey even missing three successive clear shots in the second half.

The Azkals flirted with defeat when defender Anton del Rosario was called for a handball, leading to a penalty by Malaysia’s star Safee Salih at the 90th minute.

Deyto guessed Safee’s intention well and tipped it away to the relief of a good sized crowd who were expecting a win for the home side and just waiting to erupt. 

It was the fourth straight deadlock in two years for the Azkals and the Tigers who played to a similar result last March in Malaysia. The two sides also split their two duels in 2012.

Mingling with fans and well-wishers as the Azkals played their first international friendly at home under his watch, coach Thomas Dooley realized all the more how bad Pinoys want his wards to succeed in next month’s AFC Challenge Cup.

The former US skipper, though, is confident the team’s training program for the tourney set three weeks from now is right on track.

“There’s a lot of pressure but I’m happy where we are,” Dooley said while waiting for the team bus to take them to Cebu City Sports Center for last night’s friendly with Malaysia.

Dooley has come in last February and introduced a system founded on the basics.