RANGOON—His right chest wrapped in bandage and two nasty cuts near the jaw covered with Band-aid, Yanti Barsales appeared the worse-hit after that rugged battle with Myanmar in their opening-day clash in the AFC Challenge Cup group stage qualifying here Monday.
But as footage of the terrible tackle that saw him receive a boot to the chest and jaw was replayed over and over again, eliciting oohs from his teammates, Barsales didn’t look concerned with the pain.
He was more worried about the result of the match.
“It would have been better if we won,” said the 38-year-old Barsales, a staff sergeant in the Philippine Air Force.
Making an impact with his timely runs, Barsales combined well with new Azkal Angel Aldeguer Guirado. Barsales’ run led to thepenalty kick conversion by James Younghusband, giving the Azkals a 76th minute lead.
Myanmar, however, salvaged a draw with a 92nd-minute equalizer from a free kick off a controversial foul on top of the penalty box.
The bruises on his chest and the two long cuts on his face prompted the Azkals medical staff to prescribe anti-tetanus shots for Barsales yesterday.
If there was one player who could take that kind of pain for the Azkals, it would be Barsales, who has a tough-guy reputation and is one of the acknowledged leaders in the team.
Barsales is no stranger to scary injuries in the international level. He recalled that in the Tiger Cup in Vietnam in 1997, he passed out after a head collission with a Vietnamese player in an aerial battle.
“He’s tougher than anyone here. He’s been through so many battles,” said skipper Aly Borromeo of the reserve striker who came in as a halftime substitute for nephew, Ian Araneta.
“He took one for the team. Every time Yanti gets into the pitch, he gives his all. He gives his all for team and country.” Cedelf Tupas, Phil. Daily Inquirer
