Football Philippines

Kathmandu: The Philippines ended an impressive 2012 AFC Challenge Cup campaign in third place as Phil Younghusband’s double propelled the Azkals to a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Palestine in an absorbing encounter between the two beaten semi-finalists.
Youngusband took his individual tally to five as the Azkals took the lead with just four minutes into Monday’s meeting at the Dashrath Stadium before Abdulhamid Abuhabib’s sweetly-struck right-foot curler drew Palestine level in the 20th minute.

The Philippines reclaimed their advantage from the penalty spot just four minutes later as Younghusband scored his sixth of the campaign before Angel Guirado, returning after missing the semi-final through suspension, made it 3-1 just before the break.

Abuhabib closed the gap with his second of the match in the 67th minute only for Juan Guirado to restore the Philippines’ two-goal cushion two minutes later.

Fahed Attal scored Palestine’s third and although the West Asians pushed hard for the leveller the Philippines held out for the 4-3 win.

The Philippines got off to a blistering start when an intelligent ball from skipper Emelio Calgdong released Younghusband down the left flank and the 24-year-old cut inside towards goal and skilfully escaped the attention of two defenders before firing low past Palestine captain Ramzi Saleh for his first of the match.

Palestine should have drawn level three minutes later when Husam Abusalah sprung the Philippines offside trap to release Fahed Attal but he missed the chance to extend his record as he mishit his shot with only keeper Eduardo Sacapano, who was coming in for the suspended Neil Etheridge, to beat.

A lapse in concentration at the back from Khaled Mahdi, one of just four players in the Palestine squad that featured in the goalless draw with the Philippines in the qualifiers, gave Paul Mulders a golden opportunity to double the Azkals’ advantage but Saleh did well to block the ADO Den Haag winger’s shot with his leg.

A period of Palestine pressure followed, with Khader Abuhammad off-target from the same area as Attal’s earlier miss before Mohammed Mohammed showed some deft skills to fashion a shooting opportunity only to see his 19th minute effort cannon off the crossbar.

The deserved equaliser did come a minute later with Abdulhamid Abuhabib curling the ball superbly into the top corner only for all their good work to be undone in the 24th minute, when Caligdong was tripped in the box allowing Younghusband to confidently slam home his sixth of the tournament from the penalty spot.

With four minutes of the half remaining Angel Guirado got in behind the Palestine defence and easily slipped the ball past the advancing Saleh for the Azkals’ third as the Philippines took a commanding lead into the interval.

Marwin Angeles replaced injured skipper Caligdong in the second half with James Younghusband, also back from suspension, taking over the captain’s armband.

Neither side was able to really test their opponent’s keeper in the first 20 minutes of the second period but when there was finally a shot on target it was made to count with Palestine drawing level in the 67th minute.

The ball was worked across the face of the Philippines’ penalty area, finding its way to the unmarked Abuhabib, who lashed home his second of the match.

But again, the Philippines hit back almost immediately, when good build-up play from James Younghusband and Angel Guirado sent Angel’s brother Juan through on goal and the 32-year-old coolly slotted the ball past Saleh to make it 4-2 in the 69th minute.

Palestine reduced the deficit less than ten minutes later when Attal scored his ninth AFC Challenge Cup goal after the Philippines failed to clear the ball before Abuhabib was denied his hat-trick and the equaliser in the 81st minute thanks to a fine reflex save from Sacapano.

Palestine pushed hard to get back on level terms but the Philippines were not be denied the win in an epic conclusion to their 2012 AFC Challenge Cup campaign.

Source: the-AFC.com

2012 AFC Challenge Cup Finals Fixtures, Schedule and Results

Kathmandu: Crestfallen Philippines coach Michael Weiss highlighted the two defensive mistakes that cost his side a place in the 2012 AFC Challenge final as Turkmenistan came from a goal down to win 2-1 to reach Monday’s showdown. The Philippines edged an entertaining first-half at the Dashrath Stadium and went in to the interval thanks to Phil Younghusband’s fourth of the campaign.

But with the clock ticking down Arslanmyrat Amanov was given too much space and in the 79th minute the Turkmenistan Player of the Year controlled the ball on his chest before firing low past Philippines keeper Neil Etheridge, who was sent-off in stoppage-time.

And with four minutes remaining substitute Roel Gener was caught dithering in defence allowing Guvanch Abylov to rob him of possession and set up Gahryman Chonkayev for the winner.

Weiss pinpointed these two costly errors at the post-match press conference but said that the Philippines can bow out with their heads held high.

“Mistakes happen but this was a match we should have won,” said the German.

Image credit: goalnepal.com

“However, we have done better than most people expected us to do and we have represented the Philippines very well.”

Despite ripping up the AFC Challenge Cup form book with Group Stage victories over former champions India and Tajikistan, Weiss was still left pondering what might have been as their dream of a place in the final were ended by the 2010 runners-up.

“It’s a very disappointing end to the tournament although we still have the third-place play-off and we will do our best to win that,” he vowed.

“It was an even game with many chances but didn’t take those chances. We didn’t kill the game off. We settled too deep and didn’t deal well with the Turkmen attack.

“I wish we could have been more aggressive but also remember that we had three players who started every other match that didn’t start this match. It’s difficult to compensate for that and with all this I think we were also very unlucky.”

Source: the-AFC.com

Kathmandu: Turkmenistan will get another crack at AFC Challenge Cup glory after Gahryman Chonkayev’s late winner gave the 2010 runners-up a 2-1 come-from-behind win over the Philippines in the first of Friday’s semi-finals at the Dashrath Stadium.

The Philippines took a 25th minute lead when Phil Younghusband headed home his fourth of the campaign only for Turkmenistan Player of the Year Arslanmyrat Amanov to equalise in the 79th minute before Chonkayev settled the contest with four minutes left to play.

The Azkals went into the match without the influential duo of James Younghusband and Angel Guirado, who was the standout player in the Philippines’ superb come-from-behind win over Tajikistan, setting up Phil Younghusband for the equaliser before netting the late winner.

Paul Mulders moved into midfield to replace Guirado while Angel’s brother Juan dropped into defence, with Jason Sabio absent with a knee injury.

Misagh Bahadoran came in for James Younghusband, the Azkals’ captain in their their opening match against defending champions DPR Korea, with Jason de Jong was making his first appearance in the tournament.

A loss of concentration in the Turkmen defence allowed Phil Younghusband a shot on target but his eighth minute shot flashed just wide of Rahmanberdi Alyhanov’s right post before the Central Asians advanced up field with Elman Tagayev drawing a fine save from Neil Etheridge.

In the 17th minute Younghusband showed some nimble feet to charge past three Turkmen defenders only to see his shot blocked at the near post before the former Chelsea reserve acrobatically volleyed Guirado’s long throw just wide eight minutes later.

But the goal the Philippines had been threatening came a minute later and it was no surprise that it came from Younghusband, with the 24-year-old heading home Mulders’ cross for his tournament-leading fourth of the campaign.

Turkmenistan pressed for the equaliser with Gahryman Chonkayev rattling the underside of the bar before Amanov tested Etheridge with a shot from distance as the game reached the half-hour mark.

Three minutes later Alyhanov had to be alert to block a shot from Philippines’ skipper Emelio Caligdong before the Turkmenistan captain comfortably stopped a long-range free-kick from Younghusband.

The Turkmen had a glorious chance to level when Chonkayev’s cutback across the face of goal gave Amanov open target but a rare error from the Turkmenistan Player of the Year saw him scuff his 41st minute shot and just a minute later Etheridge stood tall to block Chonkayev from close range.

Turkmenistan did have the ball in the net on the stroke of half-time but Guvanch Rejepov was offside when he headed home Amanov’s dangerous free-kick.

Six minutes into the second-half Ruslan Mingazov shot high and wide after being sent clear by Umidjan Astanov, who was booked a minute earlier for a wild lunge at diminutive winger Caligdong, before Etheridge safely gathered Serdar Annaorazov’s effort from distance as Turkmenistan battled to get back into the semi-final.

A mistake from Guirado gave Turkmenistan 63rd minute free-kick which came to nothing before a stray pass in the Turkmen defence allowed the speedy Caligdong to intercept possession before Annaorazov but his pass across goal was fired wide by Younghusband.

The Philippines again came close when substitute Lexton Moy’s 74th minute drive following some good build-up play from Ray Jonsson and Mulders and the Azkals’ failure to extend their advantage was punished five minutes later when Ammanov equalised with a superb low drive.

Things got worse the Philippines when Guvanch Abylov robbed fellow substitute Roel Gener and set up Chonkayev who scored the winner with four minutes left to play.

The Philippines disappointment was compounded in stoppage-time when keeper Etheridge was red carded for an off the ball incident involving goal scorer Chonkayev.

Source: the-AFC.com

2012 AFC Challenge Cup Finals Fixtures, Schedule and Results

In the first game of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup semifinals, Turkmenistan defeated Philippines, 2-1.

Philippines scored first in the 25th minute with a header by Phil Younghusband. Misagh Bahadoran set up Paul Mulders in the right flank and Paul with a cross to a rushing Phil for the header.

Turkmenistan scored in the 80th and 86th for the win.

Philippine Azkals will now play for 3rd place on Monday, March 19, 2012 4PM against the loser of the 2nd semifinals game between North Korea and Palestine.

UPDATE: Philippines will face Palestine for 3rd place game.

Kathmandu: The Philippines fairy tale run in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup continued on Tuesday when they defeated a former champion for the second time, with their 2-1 victory over Tajikistan sending the Azkals through to the semi-finals. The two sides last met back in May, 2008 in the qualifying tournament for the second edition of the AFC Challenge Cup and, with home advantage, the Philippines held the eventual finalists to a goalless draw.

But on the neutral venue of Kathmandu’s Halchowk Stadium with a place in the semi-finals of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup at stake it was the South East Asians on top with a thoroughly deserved victory.

Defender Alexey Negmatov gave the Tajiks the lead in stoppage-time of a first-half dominated by the Philippines, who levelled the contest nine minutes after the interval when Phil Younghusband scored his third of the tournament.

And with ten minutes left to play Angel Guirado, who set up Younghusband’s equaliser, scored the goal the made Challenge Cup history for the Philippines.

Three minutes after Tajikistan kicked-off the Philippines crafted the first chance of the match when Ray Jonsson whipped a cross in from the left that narrowly missed the head of Phil Younghusband, who scored both goals in the Philippines’ 2-0 win over 2008 champions India, before being safely gathered by Tajik keeper Alisher Tuychiev.

Three minutes later it was the Tajiks turn to threaten with Dzhakongir Dzhalilov racing onto a long ball over the top of the Philippines defence only for keeper Neil Etherdidge to sprint sharply out of his area to clear the danger.

In the tenth minute it was Tuychiev’s turn to keep the scoreline blank after the Istikol keeper stood strong to block a power angled drive from Phil Younghusband after being set up by a well-placed pass from his older brother James.

Tajikistan defender Sohib Savankulov misjudged a speculative long ball towards the Tajik goal giving Phil Younghusband another opportunity but the ball didn’t run kindly for the former Chelsea reserve and the 32nd minute chance went begging.

The Philippines had the upper-hand and just as it was looking like the sides would go into the break level Fatkhulo Fatkhuloev’s stoppage-time corner was headed goalward by Negmatov and while the Azkals claimed skipper Emelio Caligdong had cleared the danger the assistant referee consulted match official Ryuji Sato to say the ball had crossed the line and the Tajiks went 1-0 up against the run of play.

The goal seemed to deflate the Philippines are started the second-half without the vigour of the opening period but things changed in the 54th minute when Angel Guirado robbed Davronjon Ergashev on the left channel, charged to the byline and fired the ball past Tuychiev and across the face of goal where Phil Younghusband was on hand to fire the ball into the empty net for his third of the tournament.

The equaliser lifted the Philippines but it was the Tajiks that next came close to scoring only for Dzhalilov to screw his close-range shot wide when well positioned to at least test Etheridge on the hour mark.

Seven minutes later the Philippines came agonizingly close to taking the lead when Phil Younghusband’s shot beat Tuychiev but not the inside of his right-hand post.

With ten minutes left to play the Philippines got the goal their pressure deserved with Guirado bravely heading home from close range, with the burly midfielder getting the better of Tuychiev and covering defender to send the Azkals through to a final four meeting with Turkmenistan.

Source: the-AFC.com

2012 AFC Challenge Cup Finals Fixtures, Schedule and Results

MANILA, Philippines – After an opening game loss to the mighty North Koreans, the Philippine Azkals came back strong to give former champion India a 2-0 drubbing in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup.

The Azkals showed better ball handling against the Indians, who were constantly placed into defensive mode because of the Azkals’ consistent attacks.

In the 10th minute, Phil Younghusband pushed the Philippines ahead with a left-footed shot to the goal.

Jason Sabio made a long throw in to James Younghusband, who flicked the ball toward Phil.

Phil then turned around and fired the shot to put the Azkals at a 1-0 advantage over the Blue Tigers.

The Filipino-British striker followed up his effort with two more attempts at the goal in the 36th and 42nd.

In the second half, Phil teamed up with his brother for another goal on the 73rd minute.

Phil received a quick assist from James before sending the ball to the back of the net. This hiked the Azkals’ lead to 2-0.

The win was a history of sorts for the Philippines, as it was their first time to win over the 2008 titlist.

The Philippines suffered losses to India in 1971 (5-1) and in 1996 (2-0).

In 2006, however, the Azkals held the Indians to a 1-1 deadlock.

The Philippines is now tied with Tajikistan in the Group B standings with 3 points each.

North Korea leads the group with 6 points following their 2-0 drubbing of Tajikistan.

India, meanwhile, remained scoreless after two successive losses to Tajikistan and the Philippines.

The Azkals will face another former Challenge Cup champion in Tajikistan on Tuesday.

A win against Tajikistan will assure the Azkals a seat in the Challenge Cup semis.

The game will again be aired live on Studio 23.

Source: ABS-CBNnews.com

2012 AFC Challenge Cup Finals Fixtures, Schedule and Results

Kathmandu: Phil Younghusband scored a brace as the Philippines pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the AFC Challenge Cup with a convincing 2-0 win over 2008 champions India in their penultimate Group B match played at the Dashrath Stadium on Sunday.

The win kept alive the Azkals hopes of a place in the final four while 2011 SAFF Champions India became the second side out of the reckoning following 2012 AFC Challenge Cup hosts Nepal.

India started the match promisingly with midfielder Reisangmi Vashum firing a shot just inches above the crossbar in the fifth minute but that early effort was the only significant move the Indians had throughout the first half.

Younghusband, whose stoppage-time winner over Mongolia in the playoff ensured the Philippines participation in the qualifying campaign, had three great chances to score in the first half and he converted one of them.

The former Chelsea reserve striker showed his skills inside the box after receiving a sublime cross from the flank by fullback Jason Sabio and coolly directed the ball past India keeper Karanjit Singh as the Philippines took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute.

The remaining two chances came to him in the 36th and 43rd minute but his first effort sailed over the bar while the second went a whisker the wrong side of the post.

India played with a greater sense of urgency in the second half but poor play from the midfielders meant that skipper and star striker Sunil Chettri remained without adequate supply throughout the match.

India had a sight on goal in the 67th minute but defender Raju Eknath’s header was well wide after he managed to connect with Syed Nabi’s free-kick.

Man of the match Younghusband scored his brace and put the match beyond India’s reach after a brilliant one-two with his brother James Younghusband before finding the top corner in the 74th minute that left Karanjit rooted to the spot.

Chettri got a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit in the 87th minute but he fired the ball well wide from the 18-yard box after Sushil Singh fed the unmarked striker with Azkals goalie nowhere in sight.

Missing injured attacker Jeje Lalpekhula, who was the top scorer in the Blue Tigers’ qualifying campaign, India were never a threat to the Azkals and will now face DPR Korea, who booked their place in the final four after defeating Tajikistan 2-0, with nothing but pride to play for, while the Philippines will be hoping Younghusband maintains his prolific form when they face the Tajiks in a battle to see who joins the defending champions in the next round.

Source: the-AFC.com

2012 AFC Challenge Cup Finals Fixtures, Schedule and Results

Kathmandu: DPR Korea coach Yun Jong-su believes that the Philippines can cause trouble to previous AFC Challenge Cup champions India and Tajikistan if they continue to play as they did in the defending champions’ 2-0 win over the Azkals on Friday.

The 2010 AFC Challenge Cup winners were kept at bay for almost an hour, with the impressive Neil Etheridge saving a 16th minute penalty, prompting Yun’s positive assessment.

“I would not be surprised if they cause problems to the other teams in the group,” said Yun, who pointed out the Philippines have improved immensely over the past few years.

When asked if a 2-0 score against the tournament underdogs indicated a struggling performance from the defending champions Yun said:

“We wanted to win the match and it was a really difficult game to play. We are very happy to have come away with all three points as our objectives have been served.”

Yun counterpart Hans Michael Weiss admitted that they lost a very good side and took a lot of positives from the defeat.

“We played and defended very well and to defend was our strategy as we knew that chances would come along the way,” he said.

“We did get a chance very early in the match but Philip (Younghusband) missed a great opportunity. Had that gone in who knows what would have happened in the match?”

“We conceded a penalty which, I believe, shouldn’t have been given but overall, I can see a lot of positives from the match.”

The Azkals take on India on Sunday in a crucial encounter for both sides while DPR Korea will try to build on their opening win when they face 2006 champions Tajikistan, who defeated India 2-0 to gain revenge for their defeat in the 2008 final.

Source: the-AFC.com