Aussies crush depleted Azkals in international friendly

MANILA, Philippines – Australian club Perth Glory FC struck in the second half to outclass the Philippine Azkals, 2-0, in their international friendly Tuesday night at Quirino Stadium in Bantay, Ilocos Sur.

Joe Knowles (67’) and Richard Garcia (90+2’) pierced through the Azkals’ defense to deliver the blows against the Phl crew, which sorely missed a number of its regulars.

“The players tried but then we fell short,” said coach Aris Caslib, who stood in for head mentor Thomas Dooley.

The Azkals and the Glory fought to a scoreless tie after 45 minutes.

Simone Rota and Amani Aguinaldo led a defensive effort to neutralize the Aussies’ offensive threat but the Azkals failed to score with James Younghusband and Ruben Doctora missing on their chances.

The Aussies broke through in the 67th as Knowles, finding himself free on the left edge, pushed to the middle to fire a low hard shot that Phl keeper Nic O’Donnell failed to stop.

Sub Jinggoy Valmayor sent his attempt for the equalizer off at the 84th then Garcia put the exclamation point to Glory’s win by heading it in off a quick corner in stoppage time.

“We have to improve on our concentration as what happened in the last goal. We never wanted to offer corner kicks given the fact they have the advantage in height and I think they delivered and that wasn’t good for us,” said Caslib.