by Kevin Estrada

CAPAS, TARLAC — Bjorn-Martin Kristensen proved to be the superhero the Philippines needed as the match versus Tajikistan ended in a 2-2 draw in the Asian Cup qualifiers Tuesday evening at the New Clark City Stadium.

The Filipinos showed poise in which they grabbed a heroic result two days before the country’s independence, having seen them battle through a halftime deficit to keep their top spot in Group A on goal difference.

An eventful first half had everything in this mouth-watering tie, with the intense physicality matched the high stakes nature of the two sides as evidenced in the countless bookings dished by Iranian referee Hasan Akrami.

Kristensen put the hosts on the board in the 28th minute after latching home the rebound past Rustam Yatimov after Gerrit Holtmann fired his free kick into the upright corner.

However, the lead would only last for less than a minute later, when the Tajiks equalized after an uncharacteristic howler by Kevin Ray Mendoza, after he let Shervoni Mabatsoev’s long-ranged effort slip from his hands.

Three minutes before halftime, Tajikistan got the lead from the spot after Ehson Panshanbe got clipped by Josef Baccay in the box. In stepped Parvizdzhon Umarbaev who grounded Mendoza by hitting it into the top left corner.

Whatever the changing room talk at halftime brought wonders for Carles Cuadrat’s side, as the hosts pounded the Tajik defence at the restart, only for Rostov’s Yatimov to deny the Filipinos every time.

But the cramps got the Tajiks dropping like flies, and with that in mind, the Philippines took advantage of it in the 78th minute.

Kristensen completed his double after he was gifted by Tajikistan substitute Fathullo Olimzoda and made no mistake in beating Yatimov for the second time.

PHILIPPINES: Mendoza (GK), Paul Tabinas, Jeff Tabinas, Nyholm (Aguinaldo 70′, Reyes, Ott © (Rontini 89′), Kristensen (Gayoso 80′), Schneider, Baccay, Holtmann (De Muynck 89′), Bailey (Leipold 46′)

TAJIKISTAN: Yatimov (GK), Dzuhraboev, Safarov, Hanonov, Umarbaev (Khamrokulov 72′), Juraboev, Kamolov, Mabatshoev (Olimzoda 68′), Panshanbe, Nazarov ©, Samiev (Qurbonov 90+1′)

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