The Phillippine Azkals entered their first post-Younghusband AFF championship still unsure who will be their main scorer. Oh boy, they’ve got seven.

The Philippine men’s national football team enjoyed a goal party as seven Azkals scored in their first win in the 2020/21 AFF Suzuki Cup Saturday evening at the Singapore National Stadium.

Drubbing a hapless Timor-Leste side, 7-0, in their second game in Group A, the Azkals achieved its second biggest win in AFF history.
After 21 minutes of relentless attacks, wing defender Martin Steuble started the scoring parade with a scorching strike about ten yards off the penalty area off an Angel Guirado assist.

Eleven minutes later, Amin Nazari, the Azkals’ lone scorer in their opening game against Singapore, struck goal off a loose cross from Stephan Schrock.

The Azkals scored four more goals in the next ten minutes.

At the 35th minute, Guirado received a left-wing cross from Schrock and punched in a header that bounced off the goal box for a 3-0 lead.

Five minutes later, forward Patrick Reichelt received a scrambling pass from Steuble, kicking in the Azkals’ fourth goal.

Debuting center back Jesper Nyholm then scored on a header off a right corner kick from Kevin Ingreso at the 45th minute.

To cap the first half, Ceres legend and naturalized Filipino Bienvenido Marañon finally scored his first international goal, striking off the rebound from a deflection by goalkeeper Aderito Fernandes.

Having secured the win entering the second half, the Azkals fielded their young shocktroopers as midfielder Ingreso scored his fourth international goal off a chest pass from Yrick Gallantes at the 77th minute.
Timor-Leste had two late shots on goal, both from free kicks around the penalty box all saved by goalkeeper Kevin Mendoza Hansen.

The Azkals are now at third place in Group A of the tournament with one win and one loss.

This was the first win of new head coach Stewart Hall, a journeyman from England who previously coached the St. Vincent and the Grenadines national team.

This was also the Azkals’ biggest win after an 8-0 drubbing of Cambodia in 2013, where the legendary forward Phil Younghusband scored four.

The Azkals will next face powerhouse Thailand on Tuesday.