NEVER in Dennis Chung's wildest dreams that his debut with the Philippine Azkals would be as memorable as it was.
The Germany-born midfielder was already ecstatic to be called up to the Philippine under-22 national team for the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
But that glee got to another degree when Chung scored the match-tying grounder off Yrick Galletes' pass inside the box at the 93rd minute as the Philippines salvaged a 1-1 draw against Cambodia on Monday.
"It might be the most important goal I ever scored and it's a pleasure that I scored on my debut," said the 18-year-old, who was born to a Chinese father and a Filipina mother who hails from Camiguin.
Sudden impact was the presence of Chung, who came in at the 86th minute for Dylan de Bruycker in what was seen as a last-ditch effort for coach Goran Milojevic to insert energy to a listless home side.
Nerves may have gotten the better of a number of these young Azkals, but that wasn't the case for the Zehlendorf midfielder who channeled that excitement to him being the biggest difference-maker for the Philippines.
"(The coaches) just said go in and do what you want to do. I was so focused, I didn't remember anything," said Chung. "I was so focused on the game and it was my debut, so that's why."
Special as the goal was, it mattered more for the Philippines, which kept itself in step in Group A with a point before facing Myanmar on Wednesday and Malaysia on Friday.
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