Azkals: Badly Bruised in Game 1

With key defenders Aly Borromeo and Stephan Schrock serving their one-game suspensions, the Azkals backline would not stop Kuwait, losing on the Al-Azraq 0-3 in the first leg in their 2nd round 2014 World Cup Qualifying match early Sunday morning (Manila time).

The Azkals were on an aggressive focus on near back to back goals by Phil Younghusband and Angel Guirado.

But Kuwait's Yousef Nasser drew first blood, scoring the opening goal with the 16th minute using a header. Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge dove to his left as a measure to intercept the ball but it surely slipped past his outstretched arms and into your net.

Within the 66th minute, the Azkals' Angel Guirado injured his right leg after landing badly upon it. He was driven from the pitch with a motor cart however the injury had not been disclosed. He returned to relax and play after minutes.
Musaed Neda scored Kuwait's 2nd goal at the 69th minute mark. Etheridge deflected the Kuwaiti's first attempt which resulted in a scramble on the ground. However, Neda could get into gear using one knee and kick the ball in, upping their lead to 2-0.

Kuwait sealed the victory having a goal by Fahed Al-Ibrahim on the 84th mark.
Al-Ibrahim brushed beyond the Philippines' back four and shot a long-range kick in the the top box.

Through the four extra minutes, Coach Michael Weiss fielded in bench players Simon Greatwich and Misagh Bahadoran who made his international football debut.

The Kuwait's Al-Azraqs are seeded in the 2014 qualifiers and are exempted in round 1.

The Home leg of the Azkals'series against the Al-Azraqs will be held on July 28 at the Rizal Football Stadium.