Azkals Patrick Reichelt Loses 3 Teeth In Practice

BANGKOK — The Philippine Azkals are so eager to redeem themselves following an opening day defeat to the host squad that their practice session last Monday ended with Patrick Reichelt losing three teeth.

One of the players who played well in their 2-1 defeat to the Thais, Reichelt collided with bull-strong Angel Guirado in one play.

Misagh Bahadoran, one of the team’s reserves and a dentistry graduate at Centro Escolar University, said Reichelt is now in stable condition after being treated in a nearby hospital.

Despite the incident, Reichelt was expected to start for the Azkals against Vietnam, which was being played at presstime at the Rajamangala Stadium.

There were initial concerns that Reichelt may miss the match after playing well as a substitute. He entered the match in the midway point of the second half and set up the Paul Mulders goal in the 77th minute on a cross from the right wing.

His trickery and speed have been on display since the friendly match against Cambodia in September.

In the Philippine Football Peace Cup match against Guam, Reichelt scored in the 80th minute on a leaping header for a 1-0 win.

Reichelt is the latest of the team’s "walking wounded".

Phil Younghusband sustained two cuts in the first half while Juani Guirado is still hurting after being elbowed by Teerasil Dangda in the second half.

Guirado suffered a busted lip.

Source: MB.com.ph

Fil-German Stars For Azkals

MANILA – Substitute Patrick Reichelt scored his first international goal in the 81st minute as the Philippine Azkals made up for an evening of missed chances with a 1-0 win over Guam Tuesday night at the start of the Philippine Football Peace Cup at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

With his mother watching him in action for the first time in five years, Reichelt made it a perfect moment by scoring a header off a defensive lapse by Guam's Scott Leon Guerrero to give a sparse Azkals crowd something to cheer about.

Behind the heroics of Reichelt, who came in for Ian Araneta in the 65th minute, the Filipino booters avoided what could have been a lousy draw to take the early lead in the four-nation tournament.

Earlier, Yang Chao Sun scored on a penalty kick in the 90th minute to help Taiwan force a 2-all tie with Macau.

The breakthrough goal of the Fil-German began when Jeff Christiansens booted a long corner to Jason Sabio, who then attempted to score a long header.

Guerrero was able to deflect the shot into the air but as he watched the flight of the ball, Reichelt made an alert move by leaping over the Macao defender for the only goal of the match.

"It's a dream come true," said Reichelt, whose Filipina mom came to Manila as part of her two-week vacation to watch her son play.

The match, however, saw an inconsistent, sometimes sloppy play from the Azkals, who also entered the tournament minus charismatic brothers Phil and James Younghusband due to monetary and commitment issues.

Araneta, Chieffy Caligdong, Denis Wolf and Carli de Murga blew a number of chances to score, highlight a night where the Azkals attempted 10-of-19 their shots on goal.

"I'm happy with the result. I'm not happy with the game but I think we can be better," said coach Michael Weiss.