The Azkals have finally found their new scoring machine two years after the retirement of legendary forward Phil Younghusband.

Bienvenido Marañon, the naturalized Filipino from Spain and the pride of Bacolod City, became the first Filipino to ever score a hat-trick in the final tournament of the AFF Championship, helping the Philippine men’s national football team squeeze a moral victory against Myanmar, 3-2, to conclude a rather disappointing 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup campaign Saturday at the Bishan Stadium in Singapore.

The Azkals finished at third place in Group A with a two-win, two-loss card which was not enough for a consecutive semifinals berth.

Marañon was a house on fire in the first half, making mincemeat out of the hapless Burmese defense, starting his personal scoring party at the 16th minute with a running strike off a loose ball from a Daisuke Sato left cross that was intended for Yrick Gallantes.

Three minutes later, Marañon sank his most impressive international goal thus far, a nifty volley off a right cross from Iain Ramsay to elude the sticky defense of Hein Phyo Win.

The long-time Ceres-Bacolod (now United-Clark) standout capped the first half with a header off a Martin Steuble right cross at the 45th minute.

“We did good at the first half, [though] physically they (Myanmar) were better,” Marañon said about the Azkals’ first half performance.

The Chinthe adjusted in the second half, sending in defender Nyein Chan in place of central midfielder Aung Naing Win for a four-man backline while speedsters Htet Phyo Wai and Aung Kaung Mann were deployed as counterattackers.

The ploy did well for Myanmar as Nyein, together with Hein, frustrated the numerous set plays of the Azkals while Htet and Aung surprised the Filipino midfielders.

This resulted in two breakaway goals by Htet at the 77th and 86th minute, with the latter being a total breakdown by the Azkals’ defense who were left with two defenders guarding five attackers.

The Burmese had a strong chance to draw the match but Nyein’s header went out of bound after a left corner kick at the first minute of injury time.

Defenders Daisuke Sato and Amani Aguinaldo ultimately blocked any attacks from Myanmar by defending the center field well as the Azkals went on to secure the victory.

In this win, Marañon joins Thai superstar Teerasil Dangda and Malaysia’s newest ace Safawi Rasid as this edition’s top scorers thus far with four goals. He had his first international goal by scoring the Azkals’ sixth in a 7-0 whopping of Timor-Leste last December 11.

In the post-game interview, Marañon expressed his willingness to suit up for the Azkals in their next tournaments.

“Today I showed what I can give to them and hopefully in the next games I can come again and they can have me,” he said.

In the battle for first place in Group A, Thailand blanked host Singapore, 2-0, with goals from Elias Dolah and Supachai Chaided.

Tomorrow, Malaysia and Indonesia will fight for the remaining semifinal slot in Group B as Vietnam, who will face lowly Cambodia, is a virtual shoo-in and is poised to meet Singapore.

Photo: Darshan Meta