THE PHILIPPINE Men’s National Football team known as the Philippine Azkals will resume their campaign in the FIFA World Cup Qualifier with an upbeat spirit after they outclassed the visiting
Maldivian national team, 2-0, in their FIFA friendly tune-up match last Thursday night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Metro Manila.
The Philippine Azkals will be facing the heavily favored Uzbekistan in Group H of the World Cup Qualifiers on Sept. 8 at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The morale-boosting win over Maldives should be a good preparation for the crucial game.
Both the Philippines and Maldives finished the half without a goal. In the second half, Maldives made a crucial mistake when Mohamed Samdhooh accidentally headed the ball into their own goal in the 48th minute, giving the Azkals a 1-0 cushion.
Azkals’ Fil-Danish defender Jerry Ruben Lucena handed the Azkals their second goal in the 55th minute.
Lucena also plays as a midfielder with Esbjerg FB of the Danish Super Liga before he re-signed with the Azkals for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Lucena’s goal was his second international goal. The first one was in 2014 against the same opponent during the AFC Challenge Cup.
The Philippines is currently ranked at 125th in the FIFA global rankings while Maldives is at the 177th.