Little Azkals finish AFC stint with 3-2 win over Laos

THE PHILIPPINE Under 13 team ended their campaign in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U13 Festival of Football in Malaysia with three wins, three draws and four losses.

After suffering a 0-4 shutout against host team Malaysia yesterday morning, the Little Azkals returned to the pitch in the afternoon, edging Laos, 3-2, in their final match of the festival.

The Little Azkals waxed hot from the start with Jeremiah Borlongan of the Cagayan de Oro Misamis Oriental FA finding the back of the net with a goal made 30 yards from the center just four minutes into the match.

Two minutes into the second half, Laos scored the equalizer and the score remained at 1-all until Davao’s Javier Romero Salas received the ball inside the penalty box and kicked it in with his left foot to pull the Philippines a point ahead.

In the 52nd minute, Anton Yared of the Negros Oriental Football Association (NORFA) put the Philippines far ahead after heading in a corner kick with just eight minutes left in the match.

Laos did not give up by staving the Philippines lead to one with a goal just two minutes later. However, the Little Azkals tightened their defense and the match eventually ended in their favour.

Philippine coach Oliver Colina explained that the participating teams were not ranked because the festival was developmental and not a qualifier tournament./CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON