MANILA, Philippines – The core of the Azkals squad that scored a 2-0 upset over Kyrgyz Republic earlier this month will lead the 24-man pool tapped to carry the Philippine colors in a pair of home friendlies against Bahrain and North Korea in October.
Kevin Ingreso and Misagh Bahadoran, the goal-scorers in the massive away triumph over the Kyrgyz last Sept. 7, will reunite with Phil and James Younghusband, Roland Muller, Patrick Deyto, Amani Aguinaldo, Daisuke Sato, Dennis Villanueva, Martin Steuble, Manny Ott, Iain Ramsay, Kenshiro Daniels, Paolo Bugas, Jim Junior Munoz, Fitch Arboleda and Simon Greatwich.
However, Neil Etheridge, who made a number of spectacular saves in that ego-boosting win in faraway Bishek, will miss out the Oct. 7 friendly against Bahrain and the succeeding Oct. 10 fixture versus North Korea, both at Rizal Memorial.
Stephan Schrock, an absentee in the previous outing, returns to the fold as do Luke Woodland, Mike Ott, OJ Porteria, Nick O’Donnell, Daniel Gadia, and Dominic del Rosario.
According to the PFF, the two friendlies are set for 3:30 p.m. kickoffs but may be changed to 8 p.m. “depending on the progress of the installation of the floodlights at Rizal Memorial Stadium.”
The 125th-ranked Azkals are in the thick of preparations for the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup group stages, which the country is hosting in November.
The Pinoy booters hope to cash in on home field advantage to advance to the finals or win it all after semifinal appearances the last three editions.