The Philippine Azkals had lost to Bahrain for their second round friendly match with a score of 3-1. The only Filipino player who had made a goal against the U-23 Bahrain Olympic Team was no other than Chieffy Caligdong.
The friendly match against Bahrain will served as a preparation for their next (–foul word(s) removed–)ignment against one of the toughest team in the Middle East, the Kuwait Al-Azraq.
German coach Michael Weiss had fielded his best 11 players during the first half of the game which was attended by thousands of Filipinos working and living in Bahrain in full support to the Philippine National Football Team Azkals.
The first 11 players for the Azkals were Eduard Sacapano at goalkeeper, Phil Younghusband, Angel Guirado, Chieffy Caligdong, James Younghusband, Manuel Ott, Jason De Jong, Roel Gener, Jason Sabio, Anton del Rosario, and Alexander Borromeo.
During the first half of the game their were lapses with the Bahrain Olympic Team which could have been exploited by Azkals offensive players but Phil Younghusband and Angel Guirado seems to be pacing themselves.
The only Azkals player who showed his more determination was the Army man from Barotac Nuevo, Ilo-ilo the man was Chieffy Caligdong who scored a goal at 44th minute during the first half.
The Azkals native Filipino player Caligdong was able to score a goal through a header and the p(–foul word(s) removed–) was credited to Manuel Ott. It was his first headed goal. With good timing and and well-placed coordination, he had once again proved not only to himself but to crowd that climate could not stop him from scoring for the Azkals.
The Bahrain U-23 Olympic Team had scored 2 goals during the first half of the game. One from Hesham Nayem at 41st minute and the other one was from Ahmed Juma, their first goal during the 36th minute.
The other goal came from a defensive lapses of the Philippine Azkals at the second half of the game. Sayed Alawi was unnoticed and goes into the area with little resistance from Filipino dependers. Azkals head coach Michael Weiss was so disappointed with the defense and he throws a bottle of mineral water in disgust.
Other player who were seeing action for the Philippine Azkals were reserved players Simon Greatwitch preplacing Caligdong. Ian Araneta replaced Phil Younghusband, and Angel Guirado was substituted by Nate Burkey. Nestorio Margarse also replaced Roel Gener and James Hall replaces Jason De Jong.