This is, indeed, a big blow to the Azkals' Suzuki Cup campaign. Indonesia is resurgent, and Thailand just drew 2 all with powerful Australia.
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Suzuki Cup: Azkals to Miss Patiño, Sato
By: Cedelf P. Tupas - Reporter / @cedelfptINQ
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 11:07 PM November 16, 2016
The Philippine Azkals absorbed a heavy blow with Javier Patiño and Daisuke Sato ruled out of the AFF Suzuki Cup, just three days before they open their campaign against Singapore on Saturday at Philippine Sports Stadium.
With their respective clubs not compelled to release them for national team duty as the tournament doesn’t fall on Fifa dates, Patiño and Sato will miss the Suzuki Cup that will be held for the first time in the country.
The impending absence of Patiño deprives the Azkals of another quality striker.
But the bigger loss is Sato, who played solid at central defense in the 1-0 win over Kyrgyzstan. The Azkals are short on options at that position with only Amani Aguinaldo as a natural centerback.
Azkals coach Thomas Dooley could try out leftback Jeffrey Christiaens or defensive midfielder Dennis Villanueva to pair up with Aguinaldo on Saturday.
(Article intentionally cut, to read more, go to: http://sports.inquirer.net/229682/su...ss-patino-sato)
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Suzuki Cup: Azkals to Miss Patiño, Sato
By: Cedelf P. Tupas - Reporter / @cedelfptINQ
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 11:07 PM November 16, 2016
The Philippine Azkals absorbed a heavy blow with Javier Patiño and Daisuke Sato ruled out of the AFF Suzuki Cup, just three days before they open their campaign against Singapore on Saturday at Philippine Sports Stadium.
With their respective clubs not compelled to release them for national team duty as the tournament doesn’t fall on Fifa dates, Patiño and Sato will miss the Suzuki Cup that will be held for the first time in the country.
The impending absence of Patiño deprives the Azkals of another quality striker.
But the bigger loss is Sato, who played solid at central defense in the 1-0 win over Kyrgyzstan. The Azkals are short on options at that position with only Amani Aguinaldo as a natural centerback.
Azkals coach Thomas Dooley could try out leftback Jeffrey Christiaens or defensive midfielder Dennis Villanueva to pair up with Aguinaldo on Saturday.
(Article intentionally cut, to read more, go to: http://sports.inquirer.net/229682/su...ss-patino-sato)
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