Peace Cup: Azkals stricken with food poisoning but get help on pitch from Pakistan

BACOLOD – First the Philippine Azkals were mowed down by Chinese Taipei 2-1 last Friday. Then it seems possible that they were downed by another, somewhat unlikely opponent: the food at their hotel.

Several Azkals have been suffering food poisoning over the past few days. Players said that the culprit was supposedly a chicken dish that could have either been improperly cooked or spoiled.

It was reported by some of the Azkals who watched Sunday's Pakistan-Chinese Taipei Peace Cup match that some of the players are more badly hit than others. Boiboi Fernandez informed Yahoo! Philippines that Mark Hartmann, Jason DeJong, OJ Porteria and Phil Younghusband were on bed rest at the hotel, which is why they couldn't take in the game with the other players. They were also unable to make that morning's training session.

It's a double whammy for Phil Younghusband, who is already suffering from a strained calf that kept him out of the lineup in the loss to Taipei. James Younghusband said he was unsure if his younger brother would be well enough to play on Tuesday.

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Porteria is so ill that he is reportedly on an IV drip.

It's obviously a concern for the team as they are scheduled to face Pakistan on Tuesday here in the final game of the three-team tournament.

Other players like Misagh Bahadoran and Neil Etheridge were also affected but were well enough to spectate the game on Sunday. Paul Mulders, Jeffrey Christiaens, Stephan Schröck, Patrick Reichelt, Patrick Deyto, Jerry Barbaso, Ed Sacapaño, Rob Gier, Boiboi Fernandez, Martin Steuble, and Jerry Lucena were at the stadium to both scout Pakistan and meet and greet Azkals fans.

The Azkals were scheduled to clash with local side Ceres in a friendly on Sunday but that game was canceled, probably due to the number of troops in sick bay.

Gier expressed a desire for more support from Bacolod's Football fans when he said “we've got to get this stadium full for Tuesday.”

Fortunately there was better news for the Philippines on the pitch. Pakistan gifted the Philippines with the precise result they needed, thanks to a 1-0 win over Chinese Taipei in soggy, drizzly conditions at Panaad.

A Chinese Taipei win or a draw would have eliminated the Philippines from title contention, but Pakistan did just enough to avoid that.

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Zesh Rehman, Pakistan's British-born captain, poked in the game's only goal off a pass from Hassan Bashir. The move began off a corner kick in the seventh minute. Rehman, who played centerback, is reportedly the first British-Asian to play in the English Premiership, suiting up for Fulham in 2004. He has also played for Queens Park Rangers, Bradford City, and Muangthong United in Thailand. Rehman is currently connected with Kitchee of Hong Kong.

It was also an excellent day for Yousoff Butt, Pakistan's Canadian-born, Denmark-based goalie. The tall netminder produced two excellent stops in the second half to preserve the win.

Pakistan were technically the slightly better side, with more intricate passing sequences, but the Chinese Taipei squad seemed slightly fitter, surging forward late with plenty of attacking sorties that all went begging.

Left back Hsieh Meng Hsuan had a banner day controlling Pakistan's speedy winger Mohammad Adil, who nonetheless was very influential with his darting runs and well-placed passes.

Another Pakistani who impressed was forward Muhammad Ali, who came agonizingly close to doubling Pakistan's lead a few times. Ali, like Butt, plays his club Football in Denmark's second tier.

The result puts both Pakistan and Chinese Taipei at three points in the tournament, with the home side at bottom with zero points. Pakistan's goal difference is +1, while Taipei, who have finished play, have a goal difference of zero. The 1-0 victory by Pakistan favors the Azkals, because it's a win, but not by a large margin.

A 2-0 win by the Azkals on Tuesday is enough to secure retention of the Peace Cup title they won last year. With that score all three teams finish on three points, with the Azkals having the best goal difference. A 1-0 win for the Philippines and the tournament regulations on tiebreakers will need to be consulted. A loss or a draw hands the trophy to the South Asians.

The Philippines-Pakistan match will be aired live on Studio 23 on Tuesday, with coverage commencing at 6:30 pm. Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.