Australians edge past Azkals in friendly

Dubai: Australia's Olympic team survived a resilient Philippine Azkals and held on for a 1-0 win in a friendly that capped the south-east Asian national side's ten-day Middle East training camp at the Al Maktoum Stadium on Thursday evening.

An 11th-minute goal from striker Jason Hoffman, who plays for the Melbourne Heart in the A-League, was all the Olyroos needed to stave off a late scare from the Azkals, who played without their star striker Phil Younghusband.

The Olyroos, who needed a win to boost their morale going into this week's London Olympics group stage qualifier against the UAE, stepped on the gas early in the match as the Filipinos put up a deep defensive line.

A cross by Aziz Behich enabled his Melbourne teammate Hoffman to head one over Fulham goalkeeper Neil Etheridge to break the deadlock in the 11th minute.

The Olyroos dominated the first half, but an improved Azkals, who were hammered 3-0 by the Uzbeks on February 11, frustrated the Aussies' attempts to live up to their pre-match billing.

"Mission accomplished. The plan of the camp was to put the players in pressure situations, having to play three matches in six days, which will be the same in the [AFC] Challenge Cup next month in Kathmandu, Nepal," Azkals manager Hans Michael Weiss told reporters in a post-match briefing.