Game Today
(Dushanbe, Tajikistan)
9 p.m. – Tajikistan vs Philippines
The Philippine Azkals resume their quest to secure a berth in the 2019 Asian Cup when they face Tajikistan in their Group F third round qualifying match at the Republican Central Stadium in Dushanbe.
Kickoff is set at 9 p.m. Manila time with the Azkals hoping to be in better form after a crushing 8-1 defeat to China in an international friendly match last week in Guangzhou and maintain at least a hold of the group lead in the final phase of qualifiers for Asia’s biggest football tournament.
Coach Thomas Dooley’s side will enter the contest with two new players in Ruben “Balot” Doctora and Ace Villanueva.
They replaced midfielders Jeff Christiaens and Pika Minegishi who sustained injuries against the Chinese side.
Javi Patino, Phil Younghusband and Misagh Bahadoran, who scored the lone goal in the Chinese friendly which came in the first half, are tasked to lead the Azkals’ attack.