Azkals start on wrong foot in Uzbekistan loss

MANILA, Philippines -- The 76th ranked Uzbekistan sent the Philippine Azkals crushing back to earth with a clinical 5-1 victory Tuesday in a Group H match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the Philippine Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan. 

After opening the World Cup qualifiers with two resounding victories, the 125th ranked Azkals had a rude awakening on how wide the gap is between them and the elite teams in Asia. 

Everything was practically over right in the opening minute when Uzbekistan skipper Odil Akhmedov opened the floodgates with a quick goal just 48 seconds into the match. 

"From the first kick, we started in the wrong direction," Azkals coach Thomas Dooley said after the lopsided match that allowed Uzbekistan to catch them at second spot with six points on two wins against a lone loss. "After that first goal, that first minute, everything that we tried to do was gone." 

Sardor Rashidov doubled the lead in the 14th minute while Igor Sergeev made it 3-0 by halftime with the first of his brace in the 43rd minute. 

Stephan Schrock saved the Azkals from a scoreless performance by bending a free kick in the 65th minute that came right after Sergeev scored the Uzbek's fourth goal. Rashidov was the other Uzbek who made a brace by putting an icing on the win with a goal in the 80th minute. 

It was  a deflating loss as the Azkals are set to embark on a two-match road trip next month starting with a clash against unbeaten group leader North Korea on October 8 in Pyongyang. 

On the other hand, Uzbekistan coach Samvel Babayan was pleased with his team's performance following lackluster showing in their first two matches splitting it via a 2-4 loss to North Korea and a 1-0 close win against Yemen. 

"Tonight, you've seen the Uzbekistan reborn.  I see this team improving by game and soon, the rest of Asia will talk about us," Babaylan said in the post-match press conference. 

The Azkals came into this match carrying the momentum of a 2-1 and 2-0 victories against Bahrain and Yemen, respectively.

But all that were washed away by that Akhmedov's quick opening goal.