Gerrit Holtmann scored a sublime goal as the Philippine Azkals beat hosts Mongolia 1-0 on Saturday (June 11) to earn a crucial victory in the third round of AFC Asian Cup playoffs at the MFF Football Center in Ulan -Bator.

With seconds to go, Holtmann launched a low attempt from the edge of the box which Mongolian keeper Munkh-Erdene Enkhtaivan, who kept the game scoreless throughout the game, couldn’t beat as the Azkals escaped with the three points.

It was a heroic start for the German Bundesliga stalwart for VfL Bochum despite arriving in the Mongolian capital days earlier and being denied a first goal several times during the game.

But the late drama was something Holtmann, coach Thomas Dooley and the Azkals will take as it gave them a better chance of securing a second straight Asian Cup trip, either as the top team in Group B, either one of the five best second-placers.

The Azkals will try to do so on Tuesday against Palestine, scheduled for later in the day to face Yemen.

Thanks to two matches including a scoreless draw against Yemen last Wednesday, the Philippines have compiled four points.

The Azkals looked to have lost their best chance of winning in the 75th when OJ Porteria won a penalty after being knocked down by Bilguun Ganbold inside the box.

Patrick Reichelt was tasked with making the attempt from the spot but his weak attempt was saved by Munkh-Erdene, much to the Azkals veteran’s dismay.

Brucyker’s Dylan also had a chance in stoppage time but Munkh-Erdene saved the attempt with fingertips which gave the Azkals a corner.

But Munkh-Erdene’s performance was in vain after Holtmann landed a left-footed strike seconds later, silencing the home crowd while sparking cheery scenes among Azkals players and coaches.