Azkals, Aussies face off in Ilocos friendly

MANILA, Philippines - After four months of inactivity, the Philippine Azkals hit the field again tonight when they play the visiting Australian club Perth Glory FC at Quirino Stadium in Bantay, Ilocos Sur.

Returning to action since capping their campaign in the Fifa World Cup qualifiers with a historic 3-2 win over North Korea last March, the Azkals seek to shake off rust and put up a show in front of Ilocanos who are seeing them up close for the first time.

It won’t be a full-strength Phl squad in the 7 p.m. friendly, though, as circumstances forced assistant coach Aris Caslib and management to call up a slew of new faces and young guns to fill in for regulars who are unavailable due to injuries or club commitments.

“It’s a good chance for us to see other players,” said team manager Dan Palami, referring to youngsters like Jim Ashley Flores and Fitch Arboleda, Shirmar Felongco, Camelo Tacusalme and Jess Melliza, who have been called up to prove their worth.

Skipper Phil Younghusband, who last suited up in the WCQ game against Bahrain last October, returns to national team duties to provide leadership to the young guns along with his brother James, Misagh Bahadoran, Simone Rota, Ruben Doctora, Amani Aguinaldo and Dennis Villanueva.