10 September 2019
By Kevin Estrada
Five days since their defeat to Syria in their own turf, the Philippines bounced back with a comprehensive 4-1 win away at Guam Tuesday afternoon to split their World Cup Qualifiers for September.
Goran Milojevic’s Azkals needed a huge response from his men, and the visiting Filipinos duly delivered, thanks to their blitzing strikes in both halves to notch their first win in group A.
Angel Guirado put the visitors ahead just seven minutes in when he headed home a Stephan Schröck cross for his tenth international goal, his first in a WCQ in eight years with Patrick Reichelt doubling their lead five minutes later after scoring his second against the Matao, rounding up past Dallas Jaye and slotted the ball into the empty net.
With their backs against the wall, Guam surged forward at the restart, and they were rewarded with a penalty in the 67th minute which was converted by Marcus Lopez, sending Michael Falkesgaard the wrong way after Carli De Murga fouled Travis Nicklaw in a bad aerial challenge to halve their deficit.
However, Schröck resumed normal services just four minutes later, firing the low strike from outside of the box to restore the two-goal cushion.
And with ten minutes remaining, John-Patrick Strauss opened his account by converting Mark Hartmann’s through ball and fires it past Jaye to seal all three points, ending a five-match losing skid for the Azkals this year that included their shutout in their Asian Cup debut.
Guam: Jaye (GK), Lagutang, Mariano (Quitugua 90′), Chargualaf (Halehale 77′), Lopez, Cunliffe (C), Naputi, Ciochetto, Crowley (Gadia 81′), Nicklaw, Malcolm
Philippines: Falkesgaard (GK), Silva, De Murga, Strauss, Baas (Sato 60′), Schröck (C) Reichelt, Gallantes (Patiño 36′), Hartmann, Guirado (Porteria 78′), Steuble
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