Football Philippines

By ROY MOORE, GMA News

Beginning the tournament with hopes of reaching the semi finals of the football competition in the 26th Souteast Asian Games, the Junior Azkals instead finished bottom of the group after losing 2-1 to Brunei Tuesday night.

First Half

The Junior Azkals started the game the on a high note, fashioning more chances in a very open game. They took the lead when Joshua Beloya controlled a ball from Mark Hartmann to take it past his man and drive into the far corner of the net in the 9th minute. Brunei came back strongly, though, with Adi Said soon equalizing as they passed through the Azkals midfield with ease before Adi controlled well and shot past PHL keeper Roland Müller to bring the scores level in the 18th minute.

The Junior Azkals dominated much of the first half but just couldn’t find the back of the net. Brunei’s goalkeeper made a fantastic save from Joshua Beloya who beat his defender and shot from just over six yards out but the keeper kept a strong hand to deflect it away from the goal. Next, OJ Clarino, who had several chances blocked beforehand, found himself free at the back post and took Beloya’s cross well. His shot looked goalbound until a defender slid in to deflect the ball for a corner.

Clarino had another chance from the corner which was floated in, the keeper touching it away into the path of the University of Sto. Tomas forward whose lofted shot went just past the post. Despite having the majority of shots and possessions, the Azkals then went behind against the run of play though.

Brunei had a goal disallowed for offside before going ahead. They scored when an innocuous free-kick was spilled by Roland Müller into the path of Reduan to tap in the rebound on the 42nd minute. The Philippines’ man of the match in the game against Vietnam, Müller has made mistakes in two consecutive games.

Brunei’s second goal also means the Junior Azkals have conceded at least two goals in every game at the SEA Games, showing their defensive problems and the root of their struggles. Individually the players have shown quality but not yet together as a team. Not creating another solid chance before the break the team went into half-time 2-1 down.

Second Half

Both teams passed the ball around well in the second half but couldn’t fashion a clear cut chance. Jeffrey Christiaens subbed for OJ Clarino and brought some life back into the team. Driving forward soon after his introduction, he struck the crossbar as he picked the ball up on the right wing, cut inside and unleashed a rocket which left the bar shaking.

After that shot Brunei threatened on the counter and Adi Said raced to catch a long ball with Jason De Jong in chase. Roland Müller came out of his goal and cleared the danger but was inadvertently hit by his defender and stayed down for a short time. Brave goalkeeping, the ball was then sent upfield and the Junior Azkals again created a chance, Christiaens touching the ball down eloquently for Joshua Beloya to shoot, but he was again blocked by the Brunei defense.

The future of the U23s

Despite the poor performance in the SEA Games, there are still some encouraging signs. Many players, including OJ Clarino, Porteria, Beloya and Christiaens showed some great individual skill and will all be available for the next SEA Games.

With the right preparation the team can build on this experience and reach its true potential by battling for Semi Final qualification in two years. – OMG, GMA News

For SEA Games 2011 Football Fixtures, Schedule, Results and Standings, refer to the link provided

By Musong R. Castillo (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

JAKARTA – Ranged against a regional force, the Philippine Under-23 Men’s football team took its worst loss, 0-5, at the hands of Myanmar on Sunday night in the 26th Southeast Asian Games Football at the Lebak Bulus pitch here.

The Burmese were in attack mode all match with skipper Aye San breaking the Philippine defense right in the 11th minute before Kyaw Zevar Win scored again in the 41st to set the tone of the rout.

Myanmar kept its share of the Group B lead with Vietnam after rising to 3-1-0 for 10 points.

It was the third loss in four games for the Azkals, who also took a 1-3 beating at the hands of the Vietnamese and a 1-2 defeat from Timor Leste despite drawing first blood in both matches.

The only Philippine victory thus far in the sport came Saturday night when Joshua Beloya knocked in two goals inside the final four minutes to key a 3-2 victory over Laos and enable the Azkals to salvage some measure of pride.

“It (the lopsided loss) is very disappointing because we played better as a team tonight,” team manager Dan Palami said.

“There were several lapses on defense and it highlighted the fact that what we have here is a very young team.”

“We had our chances offensively but just couldn’t convert,” he continued. “Had we gotten this team earlier and played them in more international tournaments, it would have been better.”

Even with a win in their final Group B match at 6 p.m. (7 p.m. in Manila) against Brunei on Tuesday, the Azkals will bow out without a medal, keeping the Philippines without one in its long participation in the sport.

For SEA Games 2011 Football Fixtures, Schedule, Results and Standings, refer to the link provided

LEBAK BULUS – A late double from striker Joshua Beloya delivered the Philippines their first win in Group B of Men’s 2011 SEA Games football that was played at the Lebak Bulus Stadium.

The Filipinos had opened their campaign with a 3-1 loss to Vietnam before succumbing to a 2-1 loss in their second tie.

But after having a few days’ rest; the Philippines were more resolute today as they pushed hard through Manny Ott stoking the engine room as Jason de Jong attempts to provide the balance in the backline.

And Manny Ott as the captain led by example when he found the space and time to slot the lead on sixth minute before his opposite number Lamnao Singto found the equalizer in the 37th minute.

The score at the end of the first half was 1-1.

But while the Philippines were hoping to build on their first half performance, it was Laos who grabbed the lead when he beat the off side trap for a shot to the left past keeper Roland Muller.

The script was well written thus far but the story is far from however. In their eagerness to get back into the game and find the equalizer, the Filipinos lost Partrick Hinrichsen for a second yellow card offence.

The loss of Hinrichsen forced Philippines chief coach Michael Weiss to bring in Joshua Beloya and Mark Andrew Hartmann with the duo adding more pace and variant in the attack.

As Laos seem to taper down with the lead they had, the Philippines pushed forward and four minutes to the end, a cross from the right was picked up by Mark Hartmann who then beat goalkeeper Sourasay Keosouvandeng for an unselfish pass to Beloya, who had the easiest of tap ins.

The score line is anything but over. Deep in injury time, Beloya was again in the thick of the action with Hartmann again playing the feeder role for the former to score the winner and the first three points for the Philippines.

Source: aseanfootball.org

LEBAK BULUS (12 Nov 2011) – Vietnam are comfortable at the top of Group B when they totally outplayed Brunie 8-0 in a Group B tie that was played at the Lebak Bulus Stadium this evening.

The win for Vietnam, the 2009 runners-up, made sure that they are comfortable in control of Group B while for Brunei; it is the end of the road of their campaign at the biennial championship even though they still have one more game to play for – against the Philippines on 15 November 2011.

After four matches in the group, Vietnam have picked up ten points while Brunei only have one point to their name.

The game started off ominously enough where just 51seconds into the tie, Vietnam were already in front when Nguyen Van Quyet headed in the cross from Hoang Van Binh to beat Brunei reserve keeper Junaidi Akim.

Two quick blitz in the 13th and 14th minute saw Van Quyet completing his hat-trick before captain Pham Thanh Luong then got into the scoring act two minutes later when he made good on a cross from Van Binh.

From then on, it was all Vietnam as they notched goal No. 5 off Le Van Thang in the 18th minute as Hoang Van Binh then unleashed a superb right foot shot from some 25metres out to complete the half dozen goals. And the match is just half hour old.

The change for regular custodian Awangku Omar Nur Aqammadin Sallehuddin gave more confidence to the back line as he prevented Vietnam from adding to the scoreline as it stayed 6-0 to Vietnam’s advantage at the break.

The second half saw Vietnam not pushing as hard. At the start, they had their chances but either they were denied by Awangku Omar or the woodwork was there to deny them.

They finally managed to change the score line in the 57th minute off Le Hoang Thien before Hoang Dinh Tung then made the score sheet in the 72nd minute to put the score at 8-0.

Source: aseanfootball.org

JAKARTA (9 Nov 2011) – The sense of confidence has now been replaced with the feeling of anguish and desperation where after two matches in Group B, the Philippines are still without a point to their name.

After a bright start when they took the lead against the Philippines, they fell apart in the second half to concede a 3-1 loss while in their second match, they just could not muster enough firepower to fall to a 2-1 defeat.

Against such a scenario and with only three games left to the end of the group stage, chief coach Michael Weiss seems certain that their hope of a place in the next round is well over.

“We have to think now of the immediate strategy as the tournament is most likely not on us. We do not even have to think of the semi-finals,” said Weiss.

For the current campaign, the Philippines have assembled a combo of local-based players and pros plying their trade in Europe in the likes of Roland Muller, Manny Ott, Jeffrey Christiaens and Carli de Murga.

But it would seem that joining the squad with just days left to the start of the first game of the competition was not a wise decision and with them not able to acclimatise immediately, the lads were always going to struggle against the prevailing conditions.

Weiss added what he has observed in the current meet will be used to better prepare the team for the future where the hope is that more time should be allowed for the local lads and those based abroad to combine together as a unit.

He also pointed out on the need of the critics and football loving Filipinos to be more realistic in their expectations.

“A lot of these boys are very young; they can still play at the next SEA Games in 2013,” added Weiss. “The hopes in the Philippines now are way too high, we should lower our expectations. Work hard and continue to build up players who are having the right heart and not thinking of themselves as superstars because somebody admires them in the Philippines,” quipped Weiss.

“I should very well think who to bring here for this tournament, one idea is to bring more local players and see how they can compete in international exposure.”

The Philippines’ next match will be against Laos on Friday.

Source: aseanfootball.org

For SEA Games 2011 Football Fixtures, Schedule, Results and Standings, refer to the link provided