By Adrian Stewart Co

The national men’s football team entered the winning column of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 following a 7-0 domination over Timor Leste on Saturday night, December 11, at the Singapore National Stadium.

Martin Steuble, Bienvenido Marañon, Amin Nazari, Jesper Nyholm, Patrick Reichelt, Angel Guirado, and Kevin Ingreso scored a goal each as the Azkals bounced back from a 2-1 defeat to Singapore to improve its record to 1-1.

The Azkals’ lopsided victory over Timor Leste was the national football team’s largest win-margin in the AFF Suzuki Cup since its 8-0 manhandling of Cambodia eight years ago.

The Azkals were fiery in the opening half with Steuble beginning the scoring with a 21st minute conversion. It was followed by Nazari’s low attempt 10 minutes later to make it a 2-0 count.

Guirado then knocked down his 13th international goal for the Azkals with a header that bounced past the goal line in the 35th while Reichelt converted the fourth goal of the contest in the 39th.

Nyholm made it a memorable debut for him for the national men’s football team with a header off a set piece before naturalized player Marañon got his first goal for the Azkals just before the break.

With a lopsided score after first 45 minutes, the Azkals went with its reserve players in the second half and only Ingreso was able to penetrate the defense of Timor Leste for the Philippines’ seventh goal.

“I set the players three targets referring to the mental side,” said Azkals head coach Stewart Hall. “First one was win the game because we need three points desperately. Second one, score goals because we need goal difference because it may come down to goal difference [for qualification] so we need goals.”

“The third one, get in front early because I want to make substitutions. I want to use 16 players. Those were the three objectives and we did it,” added the foreigner coach.

The Azkals now brace for a clash against Southeast Asia powerhouse Thailand on Tuesday night at the National Stadium. Thailand won its first match against Timor Leste, 2-0, last Sunday. (ASC, WDJ)