Philippines will be looking to keep their incredibly-slim hopes of claiming second spot in Group A alive when they face Guam in their penultimate 2022 World Cup qualification fixture on Friday.

Scott Cooper's side are currently third in Group A, six points behind second-placed China with two games left, while Guam have lost all seven of their games in the section to sit bottom on zero points.

Match preview

Philippines suffered a 5-2 defeat to Syria in their Group A opener in September 2019 but then picked up seven points from their next three fixtures against Guam, China and Maldives to leave themselves in a strong position.

The goalless draw with China was an indication of their credentials, and they were firmly in the mix for a top-two spot at that point, but their last two results have been damaging, losing 1-0 to Syria in November 2019 before suffering a 2-0 defeat to China on Monday.

Philippines are now third in the section, six points behind second-placed China, who have a vastly superior goal difference, meaning that only an incredible set of circumstances would see them finish second.

Cooper's team are only one point clear of fourth-placed Maldives, meanwhile, meaning that poor results in their next two fixtures would almost certainly see them finish in fourth spot in the section.

Philippines will be looking to make it five straight wins over Guam and record their second victory over them in this section, having claimed a 4-1 success in the reverse clash in September 2019.

Guam, meanwhile, have lost all seven of their fixtures in Group A, which has left them bottom of the section, which is where they will finish regardless of what happens in the remainder of the group games.

There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a difficult campaign for Seo Dong-won's side, who have been shipping goals at an alarming rate and failing to find the back of the opposition's net.

Guam suffered a 7-0 defeat to China at the end of May before losing 3-0 to Syria on Monday, and they have now been beaten in nine of their last 11 international matches.

Dong-won's team will be playing for pride on Friday, but it is a big ask for a national team largely made up of high school and college players.

Team News

Philippines midfielder Kenshiro Daniels was forced off during his team's defeat to China on Monday, meaning that Jarvey Gayoso could come in for a start against Guam.

Angel Guirado, who has found the back of the net on 10 occasions at international level, is again likely to feature in the final third of the field with support from Mark Hartmann.

Philippines have a lot of international experience in the middle of the park, and there should be another position in the side for the captain Stephan Schrock.

As for Guam, Jason Cunliffe is comfortably the leading goalscorer in the squad with 22, and the 37-year-old, who is also the captain, should lead the line on Monday.

Clayton Sato plays his football for United States college side San Francisco State Gators, and the 21-year-old could be given another chance to impress in this match.

Dong-won set his team up in a 4-3-3 formation against Syria last time out and that could again be the case here, with John Matkin likely to retain his spot in a wide area.

Philippines possible starting lineup:
Schipmann, Reichelt, De Murga, Tabinas, Kempter; Gayoso, Ott, Schrock, Bias; Hartmann; Guirado

Guam possible starting lineup:
Jaye; Lee, Nicklaw, Evans, Lagutang; Sato, Lee, Chargualaf; Aguigui, Cunliffe, Matkin

We say: Philippines 2-0 Guam

Philippines will be desperate to return to winning ways in this match, and we can see it being a relatively routine success against a Guam side that have struggled to compete in the group.

Written by
Matt Law

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