JONAS TERRADO
The Philippine Azkals scored twice in the second half to beat host Maldives, 2-1, Thursday in the 2022 FIFA World Cup/2023 AFC Asian Cup second round qualifiers at the National Stadium in Male.
Iain Ramsay broke the ice minutes after the restart before Patrick Strauss doubled the lead as the Azkals produced their second win after four matches in the second round qualifiers.
The Azkals tightened their grip on third spot in Group A after drawing level with China at seven points apiece.
China was playing group leader Syria at presstime at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.
Ramsay produced his first international goal in more than two years in the 52nd minute while Strauss produced his second in the qualifiers in the 68th.
Naiz Hassan scored the consolation goal seconds before the final whistle as Maldives dropped four points behind the Philippines and China.
The Azkals fielded almost the same lineup that produced a scoreless draw against China last month in Bacolod City.
ITALIAN COACH HAS HIGH
RESPECT FOR PH AZKALS
In Shanghai, China is searching for a third coach this year after the country’s football association accepted Marcello Lippi’s resignation following the damaging loss to Syria in World Cup qualifying.
A clearly infuriated Lippi, the 71-year-old Italian World Cup winner, made a brief but angry appearance in front of the media after the 2-1 defeat on Thursday in Dubai.
“My pay is very high and I take all the blame. I am quitting as China coach,” the Xinhua news agency quoted him as saying.
“We could beat weaker opponents like Maldives and Guam, but when we encountered stronger teams like the Philippines and Syria, we could not play our own football.”
