Azkals U-22 succumb to Timnas U-22 after a second-half meltdown

Photo Credits: FF Cambodia

After putting on a show in the first 45 minutes of the match, the Philippines U-22 couldn't keep the momentum as they fall to Indonesia to open the 32nd Southeast Asian Games men's football tournament.

The Timnas U-22 proved to be the better side in the opening fixture in group A of the 32nd SEA Games men's football tournament as the Azkals U-22 succumb to a three-nil defeat. Goals from Indonesian wonderboy Ferdinan Marselino, Irfan Jauhari, and Muhammad Fajar gave the Indonesians the three points and a rousing start to their SEA Games campaign.

Despite the defeat, the Philippines, coached by former Azkals team captain Rob Gier, showed signs of improvements from their previous tournaments and boasted a skillful bunch of players from the full-backs to the forwards. However, the team still lacked killer instinct in the final third resulting to lesser chances produced compared to their rivals.

The Azkals U-22 were keeping the young Garudas at bay in the first half, however, it was Marselino, their golden boy, who opened the scoring. As the first half was closing, Marselino received the pass from Rio inside the box which he then fired past Quincy Kammeraad.

The Indonesians would continue their push for the second goal and in the process of doing so, they baited Santiago Rublico into committing a foul inside the box. Despite conceding the opener towards the end of the first half, Kammeraad made sure this time that he would get to the ball as he crucially saved the attempt from the spot.

Just like in the first half, the Azkals U-22 were holding on well to keep the opponents at bay and to minimize the damage that they received in this match. However, a meltdown in the dying minutes of the match resulted to a three-nil victory by the Indonesians.

A minute before the end of regular time, Irfan Jauhari wrapped off a lovely sequence of passing that found his shooting boots as he took the strike first-time and rifled it past Kammeraad. Then to close the game out, Muhammad Fajar blasted one past Kammeraad and gave the young Garudas their win to open their SEA Games campaign on a high.

The Azkals U-22 will now go back to the drawing board as they now regroup and prepare for another tough match. They will be facing the hosts Cambodia on the second of May, 8PM PHT, at the Morodok Techno National Stadium. A defeat or a draw would mean elimination for the Azkals U-22 as this early in the round so the boys will be coming into that second match with immense pressure on their shoulders.