Big win for Philippines and Thailand; full points for Singapore

MANILA (10 Sept 2019) – The Philippines and Thailand were big winners on the second matchday of the second round qualifiers FIFA World Cup 2022 as Singapore also picked up the full points.

Playing away was not as issue for the Philippines as they bounced back from their 5-2 loss to Syria on the first matchday last week to thump Guam 4-1 at the Guam FA Field.

Angel Guirado nailed the opener after just seven minutes as Patrick Reichelt then rounded off the goalkeeper in the 12^th minute to put the Philippines 2-0 at the half.

Hosts Guam then pulled a goal back through Mariano Lopez’s penalty in the 67th minute before the Philippines added two more goals – Shrock in the 71^st minute and then John Patrick Strauss six minutes to the end.

In the meantime, Thailand picked up the full points in the first match of Group G to whitewash Indonesia 3-0. It was Indonesia’s second loss in as many matches.

Following a first-half deadlock, Supachok Sarachat snatched a double with goals in the 55^th and 72^nd minute to sandwich Theerathon Bunmathan’s 64^th minute effort.

Singapore, who were held to a 2-2 draw by Yemen last week, had a Safuwan Baharudin’s goal just before the break to give them a well-deserved 2-1 win over Palestine at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Shakir Hamzah gave Singapore the lead after just four minutes before Yasser Hamed equalised for the Philippines in the 13^th minute. Then came Safuwan’s winner in the 39^th minute.

Cambodia were unfortunate to lose 1-0 to Bahrain after playing well for large parts in the game only to concede through Kamil Al Aswad in the 78^th minute at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.

Myanmar tried hard but they just could cope with the pressure from Japan as the latter walked away 2-0 winners at the Thuwunna Stadium.

Two goals within a space of ten minutes – off Shoya Nakajima in the 16^th and Takumi Minamino in the 26^th minute – settled things for the side from the land of the rising sun.

On the other hand, Malaysia could not hold on to their first minute lead to fall to a 2-1 loss to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Syafiq Ahmad had given the Malaysians the lead after just 34seconds but Ali Ahmed Mabkhout replied with two goals in the 43^rd and 75^th minute.

Australia will play Kuwait later tonight.

 The third matchday of the second round qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup 2022 next month.