By Jonas Terrado
Games Friday
(Binan Football Stadium, Laguna)
4 p.m. — Indonesia vs Vietnam (Women’s)
8 p.m. — Malaysia vs Philippines (Women’s)
(Rizal Memorial Stadium)
4 p.m. — Timor-Leste vs Myanmar (Men’s)
8 p.m. — Philippines vs Malaysia (Women’s)
The national women’s team shoots for a semifinals berth while the men’s U-22 squad fight for dear life when they face their Malaysian counterparts Friday in football competitions of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
Stephen Schrock and Sara Castaneda will be key in their respective teams’ bid to beat Malaysia in Friday’s SEA Games football competitions. (Rio Deluvio/Mia Montayre of the PH women’s football team )
A victory will secure the Malditas a top two finish in Group A and a berth in the semis against Malaysia in the 8 p.m. women’s match at the Binan Football Stadium in Laguna.
Over at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, the Young Azkals try to replicate the feat of the 1991 Games and defeat the fancied Malaysia side that settled for silver two years ago in a similar 8 p.m. kickoff.
Momentum is on the side of the Pinay booters after holding Myanmar to a scoreless draw, a feat that seemed unlikely after being pounded 6-0 in the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Games and 3-0 in the bronze medal match of this year’s AFF Women’s Championship.
Coach Let Dimzon, however, believes that there’s still more room for improvement after a lack of finishing denied the team an elusive goal against their Burmese counterparts.
“Kailangan talaga ma-capitalize namin yung atake namin ,” said Dimzon. “I think if we can do that against Malaysia, we’ll be able to get a good result.”
Sarina Bolden, Cam Rodriguez, Sara Castaneda are among the players expected to deliver for the Malditas.
Meanwhile, the Young Azkals hope to draw inspiration from the upset of Malaysia at the same venue in 1991 and secure the maximum three points in order to stay in the hunt for the semifinals.
It would be recalled that the Philippines gained a spot in the 1991 men’s football semis after Norman Fegidero’s goal sealed a 1-0 win over Malaysia.
The U-22 squad fell 2-1 to Myanmar Wednesday after conceding a goal in the 79th minute. That left the Philippines at one point with Cambodia, which rolled to a 5-0 win over Timor-Leste, and Myanmar level at four points each.
Malaysia also has one point after a 1-1 tie against Myanmar last Monday.
Stephan Schrock will be relied anew while coach Goran Milojevic is hoping to see Chiba Uzoka, Dennis Chung and Justin Baas step up.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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