Azkals trailing Kuwait by 3 goals? Never tell me the odds!

C-3PO: Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1. 
Han Solo: Never tell me the odds. 
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Today the Philippines will host the 2nd leg of the 2nd Round World Cup Qualifier vs Kuwait. After a gallant stand in the first 45 minutes of their away match in Kuwait, where the Azkals conceded only 1 goal to a team 50 places higher in the FIFA World Rankings, the highly touted Al Azraq produced 2 more goals in the 2nd half to own a commanding 3-0 lead going into today's home game at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Again, like many instances in their past games, the Azkals have their backs against the wall. Which suits them fine for they have always been the underdogs, their moniker a stylized version of the Filipino word "askal" derived from two words "aso" (dog) and kalye (street), or mongrels. If the Kuwaiti team thinks they can already snooze and cruise their way  to victory, they will be in for a rude awakening. Now that the Azkals are playing on their own turf, the indomitable Pinoy spirit will be come to fore. This is our doghouse!

I, together with the Kaholeros, the 13,000 people in the stadium and the millions of Filipinos watching on their tv sets tonight, will come together as one to be the Azkals' 12th man. Our battlecry: WE BELIEVE!

To quote Ebong Joson, more popularly known as the Blue Haired Fanatic, the driving force behind the Kaholeros:

 ""When is an askal at its most dangerous?" a foreigner asked me one day.


"When it is down and bloodied," I said. "Just when you think it's over and you are wearing a stupid smile on your face, it will jump up and bite you on the jugular. That is an askal."

Down and bloodied? Down 3-0?

Never tell me the odds! Go Azkals Go!