Beloya lifts PHL over Laos

(This is the DRAFT of my report of the Laos vs. PHL game)

ON 11-11-11, number 11 saved the day for the Philippine football team in the Southeast Asian Games.
 

Showing the spunk and character that was missing in their first previous losses, the Junor Azkals banked on two late goals by Joshua Beloya, who sports the No. 11, to stun Laos in Group B of the SEAG football event.

The Junior Azkals now have three points after their first win for No. 3 in the group, trailing Vietnam (10 points seven points), Myanmar (seven) and Timor Leste (six).  Laos and Brunei are at the bottom with one point each.

The win revived the Philippines slim chance to taking one of the two spots for the semifinal round--it now has to win its final two matches against Myanmar and Brunei to get to nine points) and hope neither Timor Leste nor Myanmar can get to nine points.

The Philippines started well yesterday and Manny Ott, who scored the opening goal against Vietnam, added to his tally with a wonderful strike in the seventh minute, collecting the ball just outside the box before blasting it past the keeper.

Jeff Christiaens forced a save in the 15th minute, while goalkeeepr Roland Muller tapped off a tuanting shot in the 21st to preserve the lead.

In the 30th, OJ Clariño tried his luck from outside the box but his swerving shot was easily picked by the keeper.

And in the 37th, Laos equalized with Lamnao Singto hitting from close range for the equalizer. Laos got close to getting the go ahead goal in the 45th but Muller was up to the task with yet another impressive save.

But just two minutes into the second half, Laos, which shifted its attack from the flanks to the center, and Singto caught the PHL defense sleeping to beat Muller for the second goal of the match.

But the Philippines didn’t give up.

“We have to cease to become a team of Jason de Jong, Manny Ott and be just Filipinos who are out to represent the country and do well,” team manager Dan Palami told ABS CBN in an interview that was shown at half time.

And the Philippines certainly had a chance to show its mettle. Patrick Hinrichsen picked up two quick yellow cards in a four-minute span and was sent off, reducing the Philippines to 10 man.

But instead of wilting, the squad kept pushing before finally getting the qualizer in the 89th minute courtesy of Beloya from a Mark Hartmann pass.

Then two minutes into injury, Beloya struck again, showing wonderful ball control as he took a long pass to beat his defender and blast the game-winning goal to the back of the net.