Junior Azkals open SEA Games campaign with 3-1 loss to favorite Vietnam

The Philippine Under-23 team dropped a 3-1 decision over Vietnam Thursday at the start of football competitions in the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Manny Ott put the Philippines in front when Mark Hartmann played a well disguised pass to the Filipino-German central midfielder who hit the ball on the half volley. Roland Müller had several great defensive stops as the Philippines enjoyed a 1-0 halftime lead. But that was short lived as Vietnam equalized in the second half as Matt Hartman headed in an own goal after several great saves from Müller. Müller continued to save shot after shot in the second half but Hoang Thien made it 2-1 for the 2009 SEA Games silver medalist in the 73rd minute. Nguyen Van Quyet, eloquently curling into the top corner, scored Vietnam's other goal in the 91st minute of stoppage time. The Junior Azkals will have a lighter opponent in their next game when they face Timor Leste on November 7. First half Vietnam had been in charge of the game in the first half with 65 percent of the possession. Fashioning several good chances Van Bosshe first cleared as a Vietnamese forward rounded Müller in goal before the Azkals goalie then produced a fantastic save from point blank range. Vietnam were playing great possession football and tore apart the Azkals defense with quick movement, forming triangles between the players to round the Azkals defense. It would be kind to suggest the Azkals were playing a zonal marking system with the Vietnamese attackers seeming to move away from defenders at will. Vietnam should have been leading but Müller and Van Bosshe kept the scores level before Ott broke the deadlock in the 37th minute to put the Azkals ahead going into the break. Showing great technique Ott at first was deemed unavailable for the Philippine U23 team having to look for a new club back in Germany but a change of heart brought him to Indonesia at the last minute and coach Michael Weiss was pleased with his first-half contribution. Second half The second half started with both sides hitting the post early on. Neckson Leonora conceded a foul and a yellow card, though replays showed his slide tackle didn't make contact with the Vietnamese player. The ball was whipped in well and Müller was beaten from the header but the crossbar came to his rescue. The Azkals then broke and Ott won possession in the Vietnamese area, held the ball up before laying it off. The following shot curled beautifully, again leaving the keeper with no chance, but the post saved Vietnam this time. Müller then made two fantastic saves to keep the Philippines' ahead, blocking one-on-one attacks as the Vietnamese time and time again broke through the defensive line. Having been offside several times in the first half Vietnam seemed to find their rhythm and forced Müller into some great saves. It seemed no Vietnamese player could beat Müller and indeed Vietnam's equalizer came from an own goal. Vietnam crossed from the left and Hartmann inadvertently headed the ball into the back of the net. Unlucky to concede the goal in such a manner the Azkals could have no argument that it was undeserved. Vietnam then went ahead when a chipped through ball sent their attackers through but Müller got to the ball first and punched away. The ball fell into the path of Thien, who passed comfortably into the open net. The marking was lapse once more and Müller was forced off his line, unlucky that his clearance reached a Vietnamese player. Minutes later Müller made another great save as Vietnam got through again only to be beaten back by the Azkals keeper. Vietnam should have had a third when Chu Ngoc Anh misfired from just a few yards out in the 90th minute when the ball was cut back to him. Icing on the cake Vietnam did get their third goal with virtually the last kick of the game though. Pushing forward the Azkals were caught on the break and a four-on-four ended with the ball being worked well from the right before Van Quyen turned his man and curled into the top corner to wrap up the win. The 3-1 win completes Vietnam's revenge for the 2-0 loss loss in last year's Suzuki Cup. With the Philippines recording a shock victory then coach Henrique Calisto refused to shake hands with then Philippine coach Simon McMenemy after the match. This time around the coaches were more professional. Looking to cement their position as group favorites, Vietnam did just that with some very fluid football, great passing and movement causing problems for the Azkals' defense throughout the game. If not for the Philippines' man of the match Roland Müller in goal the scoreline could have got embarrassing. In context Since the tournament changed format from the Senior teams to the Under-23 teams in 2001, Vietnam holds a decent record with three silvers out of the last five tournaments. Vietnam has never won the SEA Games gold, though South Vietnam ruled the tournament in 1959. The defending silver medalists will be going for gold and it must be remembered that this was the Philippines' toughest game of the group. By contrast this 3-1 loss is the first time the Philippines has competed in the tournament since 2005 where they finished third in the group, just missing out on the semifinals. Vietnam deserved the win with 71 percent of the possession throughout the game but the Philippines will be looking to bounce back against Timor Leste on Monday, November 7. The Azkals will need to be cautious of yellow cards, though, with Jeff Christiaens, Neckson Leonora, De Murga and of course Jason De Jong picking up bookings. However expecting victories against Timor Leste and Brunei, good performances against Laos and Burma will send the Azkals into the semis with a good shot at a medal Before the match Weiss called for the realistic aim of finishing second in the group. Now the Azkals will have to rise again to qualify and once more make history. — With Rodneil Quiteles/JVP, GMA News