Azkals blank Timor Leste, PHL upsets Thailand in men’s beach handball

A FEARLESS attacking show boosted the Philippines to a 4-0 overcome Timor Leste at the beginning of males’s soccer on the 31^st Southeast Asian Video games on the Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho, Vietnam, on Friday.

Over at Tuan Chau Island in Quang Nihn Province, the lads’s handball workforce additionally opened its marketing campaign on a excessive be aware with an 18-16, 18-16 upset of Thailand, which clinched silver in 2019 behind Vietnam.

However the Filipino seashore handball athletes, who accomplished the rostrum at dwelling in 2019, will put their mettle to a check towards the host and defending champions on Saturday.

Objectives from Christian Rontini, Dennis Chung, Jovin Bedic and Oskari Kekkonen propelled coach Norman Fegidero’s aspect to a primary victory in a tricky Group A that additionally contains defending champion and host Vietnam, 2019 runner-up Indonesia and Myanmar.

Rontini opened scoring with a pinpoint header off captain Stephan Schrock’s cross within the eleventh minute, however it wasn’t till the second half when the under-23 Azkals lastly put the Timorese to the sword.

“It’s at all times going to be troublesome going into the match as a result of we don’t know precisely the place we’re as a workforce, however everybody confirmed a number of dedication and self-discipline,” Schrock stated. “The boys did very nicely.”

The Filipinos have a one-day break earlier than taking up the Vietnamese on Sunday in a match that might decide their possibilities of advancing to the semifinals.

“We sleep, eat and we go once more,” stated Schrock, expressing confidence of a robust exhibiting towards the hosts.

The Philippines nearly doubled the lead within the thirty fifth minute when Sandro Reyes launched Bedic down the center just for the Kaya FC Iloilo striker to spray his shot huge.

Aside from an early likelihood, Timor Leste hardly had a sight on aim because the Philippines dominated proceedings at midfield.

Chung, who examined the Timorese goalkeeper twice within the first half, lastly bought on the scoresheet within the 56th minute thanks to a different effective ball from Schrock.

Bedic made it 3-0 within the 78th minute, exhibiting energy and ability in holding off defenders earlier than discovering the again of the web.

Kekkonen netted a fourth with a robust strike within the center after being teed up by Oli Bias 9 minutes from time.