The Philippine Men’s National Team collected their second successive win in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Qualifiers after a 4-3 win over Tajikistan last night at the Republican Central Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Phil Younghusband, Javier Patiño, and Daisuke Sato found the back of the net for the Azkals which now lead Group F with six points after two games.
Younghusband opened the scoring in the 28th minute. The forward sent his free kick over the wall and past the goalkeeper to claim his 46th international goal.
Patiño scored once in either half to hand the Philippines a commanding 3-0 lead early in the second half. His first goal came in the 41st minute and the second in the 48th minute. Mike Ott provided the assist for both goals.
Tajikistan put up a fight for the rest of the second half. Parvizjon Umarboev scored from the penalty spot in the 57th minute after a foul by Amani Aguinaldo. Dilshod Vosiev reduced the lead to just one goal four minutes later after the Philippine defense broke down.
Sato reinstated the two-goal cushion in the 79th minute, firing from distance to make it 4-2.
Tajikistan scored a late consolation in the 89th minute from Manuchekr Dzhaililov, but the Philippines was not to be denied of a second win in the qualifiers.
“We congratulate our national team for their second win in the Asian Cup Qualifiers. This was a perfect response after last week’s loss in a friendly with China PR. The win increased our chances for a place in the 2019 Asian Cup,” said PFF general secretary Atty Ed Gastanes.
The Philippines’ next AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers game will be a home match against Yemen on September.
Photo from Tajikistan Football Federation