MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines men’s national team prevailed over Malaysia 1-0 Friday night in the Southeast Asian Games football tilt before a huge crowd at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

The win, anchored on team captain Stephan Schrock’s sublime corner kick in 72^nd minute, improved the Azkals’ chances at barging into the semi-finals.

They now have 4 points with their hunt for a semifinal spot very much alive although their final assignment is a must-win one.

And that would be against Timor Leste on Wednesday, 04 December 2019, at the Binan Stadium in Laguna.

For all intents and purposes, PH holds some kind of mastery against Timor as it held the latter back 3-2 and even blanked Timor, 0-3, in previous meetings in the AFC Suzuki Cup

Aside from Timor, the Philippines’ Group A bracket-mates include Cambodia, Malaysia, and Myanmar.

Group B includes Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei.

Only the top two teams in each group move on to the knockout semi-final round that would finally determine podium finish.

The Philippines currently occupies the No. 3 seat in Group A behind Cambodia, Myanmar, and depending on the number goals the Azkals would make opposite Timor, they would have a chance at dislodging either Cambodia or Myanmar to make it into the next round goals-wise, points-wise. (IAMIGO/CNS)