Live or bust: Embattled Azkals, Indonesians face off

MANILA, Philippines - Backed to a corner and in dire need of a boost in their AFF Suzuki Cup campaign on home soil, the Philippine Azkals treat tonight’s Group A duel with the Indonesians as if everything they hold dear and aspire for were on the line.

“Every game is the final, it’s not a friendly game, and you have to fight,” said Azkals coach Thomas Dooley ahead of the crucial 8 p.m. match with the Indonesians at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan.

“I’m always telling the players the opponents are going to steal your money. It’s kind of important that you see the game not like you’re just playing but like there’s something big at stake; when you’re in a competition, you do your best and you fight til the last minute,” he added.

The Azkals had failed to get a strong start in the Asean bootfest the country is hosting for the first time, settling for a scoreless draw with 10-man Singapore side last Saturday. The disappointing result made the road to the semis tougher as the Pinoy booters had to hurdle the Indonesians tonight and defending champion Thailand on Friday to secure their fourth straight semifinal stint.

“We should win (tonight), that’s the bottomline for us. We need the three points, we will get the three points. I’m confident because everybody’s working our butts to get it,” said midfielder Stephan Schrock.

The Azkals vowed to come out of the Singapore stalemate wiser and tougher, ready to tap the Filipino never-say-die spirit that has served them well before.

“Our players are very strong mentally. Before the tournament we talked about what we have to have to be a successful team and it’s all about positive environment, positive energy, positive spirit. I can still see that now,” said Dooley.

“Even after the game against Singapore, the players are a little frustrated of course, upset that we didn’t score a goal and couldn’t win the game but nothing has changed…the players look fit and ready,” he added.

Schrock, who has seen the Azkals come out of tight situations before, expressed confidence they can do it again. 

“There are some guys gone and some new faces in but the fighting spirit of the Azkals has always been there. So when our backs’ on the wall, we’re doing the best we can (to fight out of it),” he said.

The match is as important to the Indonesians, who are in a win-or-go home predicament after a 2-4 setback to the War Elephants.

“Both teams have to win. If we lose, we are out. It will be difficult for both teams,” said Indonesia mentor Alfred Reidl.

The Merah Putih take some positives from their strong stance against the Thais, whom they held to a 2-2 standoff before Teerasil Dangda pulled the plug with his second and third goals.

“We played quite a pretty good game despite the loss. It was a good performance against the clear favorites of the tournament and we can carry that into this game. I think we have a chance; we saw the Phl-Singapore game and we believe we can beat them,” said Reidl.

“Indonesia is a good team, they showed quality and speed in the final third but I think we can handle them,” said Schrock.

Fil-Swiss Martin Steuble, who sat out the opening match due to sanction carried over from the 2014 Suzuki Cup semis, returns to action tonight to help man the back line.

Meanwhile, the Thais gun for the first semis seat against the Lions in the other game.

The 4:30 p.m. duel features Thai coach Kiatisuk Senamuang and Singapore counterpart V. Sundramoorthy, legends in their respective countries who faced off numerous times on the pitch in the 1990s.