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Azkals 1, Guam 0: We’ll take the W

My postgame thoughts on the Philippines' opening Peace Cup win.

It wasn't pretty, but it was well-deserved. The Philippines were by far the better side against Guam but it wasn't reflected on the scoreline. However three points is three points, whether you win 1-0 or 7-0 so we should settle for the result. We now sit alone on top of the Peace Cup table.

The Azkals should have won at least 3-0, but once again we were let down by inadequate finishing. A lot of players can take the blame. Denis Wolf and Ian Araneta made all of us miss Phil Younghusband with agonizing misses and sometimes curious decision-making. Demit Omphroy shot wide, Carli De Murga sent a free kick over the bar, Chieffy Caligdong hoofed a late-first half chance into the sky, Oj Porteria missed, Lexton Moy was unlucky to be saved, Marvin Angeles at the keeper.... the list goes on.

The Azkals bossed the midfield as Guam squatted in their compact little foxhole, eking out a few chances from counterattacks. The Azkals played a somewhat unusual style, with their wingbacks playing extremely high up. The formation was almost a 2-6-2 at times. The centerbacks were so wide you could drive a pair of buses through the gap. But Guam was unable to penetrate the holes effectively, being content to sit back even when they went down.

The game turned on the goalkeepers during a crucial five minute stretch. The job of goalkeeper is a strange and perilous one. It's a bit like playing Poker. You fold and fold and fold for hours and then suddenly when you raise on the flop with two pair, someone re-raises you all-in.

It's long stretches of boredom followed by moments of absolute terror.

That's what happened to Ed Sacapano in the 75th minute. He had been enjoying a quiet and efficient game with few difficult situations until a Guamanian long ball sailed threateningly towards a Guamanian forward just outside the penalty area. In a moment of superb judgment the Army keeper raced out of the penalty box and courageously headed the ball to safety, landing awkwardly beside the opponent. It was the kind of decisive, quick-thinking goalkeeping that keeps him on the number 3 slot behind Roland Muller. I am hoping that Ref Cuaresma gets playing time this week but after this game, Sacapano isn't going anywhere.

Then five minutes later it was Guam's Doug Herrick who was put under pressure. An Azkals header from distance clanged into a defender and popped up skyward. Herrick moved forward but was blocked by a defender. Substitute Patrick Reichelt soared into the air and coolly nodded it over Herrick into the goal.

I first thought that Herrick was indecisive and should have charged at the ball. But his way was blocked by his teammate. Perhaps he did scream "keeper" at his defender in an effort to get him out of the way. Or could he have run around the defender and grabbed the ball?

I spoke with DLSU coach Hans Smit afterwards and he refused to blame the 6'3" Herrick, who was drafted by the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. According to Smit, it was always going to happen and there was little Herrick could have done.

Perhaps Herrick could have tracked back when the ball ballooned upwards. For sure he was in the proverbial No Man's Land for goalkeepers at that point, which allowed Reichelt to score. A quick Michael Jackson Moonwalk to the line might have prevented that.

But we'll never know. Herrick had a sensational game with his big saves on Lexton Moy and Misagh Bahadoran, as well as his startlingly long goal kicks and clearances. But one awkward moment prevented a clean sheet and doomed his side.

For sure Guam coach Gary White was not happy. In the post game press con he said "we have got to stop giving away naïve goals."

Among the debutantes, Omphroy was the most impressive. All in all, three players got their first caps against Guam: Marvin Angeles, Demit Omphroy and Matthew Uy. Angeles, the twin of Marwin, narrowly missed a late chance. Matthew Uy looked decent on the ball but sprayed at least two passes. Omphroy had an influential second half with some neat flicks to Denis Wolf. He's a cagey winger/defender who has the motor to see-saw back and forth from offense to defense. His guile and pace will be sorely needed in the Suzuki Cup.

Jason Sabio's non-start wasn't just because of a groin strain. There was more to it. Michael Weiss raised some eyebrows in the post match press con with this explanation of Sabio's absence from the starting eleven. Sabio came on in the second half.

"It was something I cannot disclose. Part of my decision also was that he didn't prepare professionally. So I had him in my mind for the starting line up but I heard some things which were not so positive, so I decided on just letting him out to make him understand that we have our eyes and ears everywhere and we see everything so that was part of my decision also. But he did a decent job in the second half. He was reliable."

Interesting. We hope that whatever issues they might have are behind them. The last thing the team needs is more drama.

Wanted: Strikers for Philippine National Team, for immediate deployment. We must consider the very real possibility of the Younghusband brothers not joining the Suzuki Cup squad, unless something dramatic happens very soon. If that's the case, at least one more striker will need to come on board.

How about Mark Hartmann? His twelve strikes in the UFL League are tied for third. He could be considered although in the eyes of some he has baggage. The speedy Balot Doctora is a possibility. Josh Beloya would be great, but he seems out of favor and is no longer based in Manila. We could dust off Freddy Gonzales or Yanti Barsales but I doubt if they would bite. Nate Burkey? He's a possibility.

My vote goes to Tating Pasilan. The Green Archers left-footer tied Hartmann for third in the league with 12 goals. Pasilan has International Speed and a wicked left foot. Numerous reports also speak of his terrific attitude. He hasn't been capped in years and at 26, is in his prime. But is he even anywhere near the coaching staff's radar?

We could get someone abroad but since time is of the essence, I think a player based here would be better.

The Rizal Memorial pitch is back to its full glory. Kudos to Bert Honasan and his team for dressing up the pitch so well that it was truly worthy of a national stadium. The greensward hasn't been this good since the Sri Lanka game last year. The nightmarish moonscape of the Malaysia game has been banished from memory.

Can it always be this good? YES. We just have to avoid the temptation to overplay it to death. One game a week, max two, sounds about right after this tournament. And that includes training sessions and whatnot. There seems to be doubts about whether it will become plastic. If it stays natural, then let's take care of it.

The attendance was truly pitiful. Not even a fifty peso bleacher ticket was enough to lure Pinoy Football fans to the Rizal Memorial on a Tuesday night. The grandstand was about half full and only a smallish piece of the center bleachers was populated. It almost made me want to cry. Has Azkals mania waned that much? Apparently so. How bad was the attendance? The Azkals customary post-match lap of honor was replaced by a stroll straight to the center bleachers. No need to do a lap, since there wasn't anyone there to greet behind the goals.

My hope is that Thursday will be better, and that on Saturday, with the title on the line, Rizal Memorial will be rocking. I'll continue to tweet out exhortations for people to watch the games live.

I can't emphasize it enough: the team needs our support now. Please watch live on Thursday and Saturday.

Think we'll have a walk in the park against Macau on Thursday? Think again. I saw the Macanese draw with Chinese Taipei 2-2 in the four p.m. game. They have revamped their squad and will not be the pushover they were in last year's Long Teng Cup. Winger Sio Ka Un has an insane first touch. Midfielder Ricardo De Almeda scored with a cool finish. Iuri Kaewchang Capelo is half Thai, half Portuguese and grew up in Macau. He has good pace and assisted on Macau's second goal, a header from Chan Kin Seng.

Three cheers for Patrick Reichelt. The kid earned this goal. He's come so close in recent games and it was just awesome that he claims his first International tally with his mother watching. His enterprise was rewarded and I couldn't be happier. I loved his post game remark in his German-accented English.

"My feeling is like super, now!"

You can follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.