SHAH ALAM, Malaysia – Misagh Bahadoran, Patrick Grogg, and Elljhome Clyde Rasonable scored braces on Friday as the Philippine Azkals swept the group stage with a 9-2 win over India in the Asia 7s Championship at the EV Arena Elmina.
The Azkals won all three matches including the first two in the tournament opener on Thursday to top Group B, setting them up for a match against the No. 4 seed in Group A in the quarterfinals.
READ Azkals open Asian 7s with victories over Hong Kong, host Malaysia
The Group A seedings are still being determined at posting time.
Bahadoran knocked in the goals in the 12th and 25th, while Grogg scored in the 16th and 23rd to make it a blowout contest early in the seven-a-side match played in a smaller pitch.
Rasonable padded the lead in the 36th and 39th, just after Andres Aldeguer joined the scoring parade of the Azkals in the 34th.
Marvin Bricenio also got the Azkals going in the 39th, before Mark Hartmann ended the match in the comeback period with a goal in the 41st.
Azkals head coach Hamed Hajimehdi is glad with the performance in the group stage that also saw the Philippines beat Malaysia, 4-3, on Thursday night.
“We didn’t have much preparation in the Philippines because they are very busy with their clubs. Little by little, we adjust. I’m happy with the performance because we beat Malaysia in their home," said Hajimehdi, who thanked Azkals team manager Dan Palami for entrusting him with the handling of the team.
"It’s the first time in Philippine football that they beat Malaysia. I’m very happy,” he added. “We grow slowly by one game. We will see if we can reach the finals, and hopefully, we can win."
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