(CNN Philippines) — Tajikistan was hungry to complete the comeback, but ultimately fell short.
The Philippine Azkals came away with the victory in enemy territory after besting Tajikistan, 4-3, in the 2019 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup qualifiers on Wednesday at the Republican Central Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
After being on the receiving end of a thorough 8-1 thrashing at the hands of China in a friendly, the Philippines was eager to get back to winning ways.
Philippine captain Phil Younghusband was the first player to get on the scoresheet, after curling in a free kick beyond the Tajik keeper at the 28th minute mark, 1-0.
Four minutes before the halftime break, Javier Patiño doubled the Filipino advantage with a tidy low finish.
After the break, the Philippines continued their period of dominance by scoring just three minutes after the restart through another Patiño strike, 3-0.
But then the hosts finally gave their fans something to cheer about in the 57th minute.
Filipino defender Amani Aguinaldo conceded a penalty which Parvizjon Umarboev used to get Tajikistan in the game, 3-1.
The Tajiks got a further boost just four minutes later after Manuchehr Dzhalilov pounced on an errant Junior Muñoz pass to set up Dilshov Vosiev to inch even closer, 3-2.
With momentum on Tajikistan side, leftback Daisuke Sato stepped up for the Philippines with a wicked strike from outside the box in the 79th minute to give the visitors a 4-2 advantage.
The Azkals looked like they were coasting to the finish line, until Tajikistan grabbed a late lifeline through an 89th minute strike from Dzhalilov to come within 4-3.
Four minutes of injury time was put on the board, but it was too little too late for the hosts as the Azkals came away with the win.
The victory sees the Azkals top Group F of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers with 6 points, after Yemen and Nepal battled to a goalless draw in the other fixture.
The Azkals will face Yemen in their next qualifying match on September 5 at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod.
