The Philippine Azkals had to make do with a goalless draw to kickstart their 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup campaign as they were held 0-0 by a stubborn Singapore side tonight at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan.
No goals were scored after 90 minutes of action, despite Singapore going down to 10 men after Hafiz Sujad was sent off in the 34th minute.
“We’re up against the home team and we’re definitely motivated to go out and try to get the three points. Our match got more difficult with only 10 players and the task became a lot more difficult to come out with the result. Credit to the boys we got something today,” commented Singapore coach V. Sundramoorthy after the game.
Singapore proved too difficult for the Philippines to break down in the first half. The Singaporeans were set up to stifle play and perhaps escape this game without a loss.
Veteran Singaporean defender Daniel Bennett tried his luck in the Philippines’ box, only for him to sky his shot away from the target.
The Philippines faced constant problems in their final third, as their long balls from the back failed to have any effect whatsoever on the Singapore back four. Only free kicks from Stephan Schrock tested Singapore goalie Hassan Sunny but the latter easily repelled the shots.
The only positive for the Philippines in the period was Singapore defender Sujad getting sent off in the 34th minute for a bad foul on Azkals skipper Phil Younghusband. That was very much it, though, for the Philippines and Singapore, as it finished goalless at the break.
When the game resumed, a much more furious Philippines came out to the fore. Hikaru Minegishi came on for Iain Ramsay and the former put his stamp on the game when he forced a good save from Hassan.
Passing was more incisive for the Azkals. The undermanned Singapore squad were content to just sit deep in their half and spring a counterattack, as the home side had the onus to push for a goal. Mike Ott and Stephan Schrock had shots on target, but Hassan stood firm and kept the game scoreless.
Time was running out for the Philippines to get the solitary goal that would win the game. Pass after pass went to naught, with Singapore’s back four staying compact throughout in the final stages of the contest.
Probably the best chance of the match fell to Minegishi, who was played through on goal, and with only Hassan left, but he squandered the opportunity and the chance went begging.
In the end, the Philippines were left to lament a 0-0 draw against Singapore.
“Obviously a little bit disappointing playing against 10 (men). Most of the time we couldn’t score a goal. It’s obvious they re trying to park the bus in front of the goal. It’s a part of the game. I don’t like it. We had 2-3 opportunities to score. We didn’t take it,” rued Philippines coach Thomas Dooley.
Both countries’ next games will still be at the Philippine Sports Stadium on November 22 (Tuesday). Philippines will face Indonesia at 8:00 PM, with Singapore facing Thailand earlier at 4:30 PM
Philippines XI: Muller (GK), Younghusband P (C), Ott Mr, Ott M, Daniels, Christiaens, Ramsay, Bahadoran, Ingreso, Schrock
Singapore XI: Hassan (GK), Hamzah, Jantan, Mohana, Hameed, Harun (C), Bennett, Amri, Baharudin, Anumanthan, Sujad
