Gutsy Azkals salvage draw vs Palestinians

 MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Azkals withstood the aggressive stand of the fancied Palestinian side to salvage a scoreless draw and keep their bid alive in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup group stage Wednesday at the Thuwanna Stadium in Rangoon, Myanmar.

Putting up a Spartan-like defense, the Azkals thwarted everything the Al-Fursans threw at them, with goalkeeper Neil Etheridge protecting the goalmouth valiantly as the Filipinos forged a draw for the second straight game.

Chieffy Caligdong and newcomer Yannick Tuason showed offensive and defensive brilliance but the end result left the Azkals’ fate hanging in the balance entering their final match opposite Bangladesh Friday in the same venue.

A victory, though, could have led the Azkals to a safer position.

For blowing away a won game that resulted in a 1-1 draw against Myanmar last Monday, the Azkals remained at second with two points, but could end up at third should Myanmar beat Bangladesh in the second game which was being played at presstime in the same venue. If Myanmar prevailed last night, it will tie Palestine on top with similar four points.

The Azkals will need to beat Bangladesh at all cost Friday at 5 p.m. (Manila time) to stay in the race.

The top two teams at the end of the single round group elims will advance to the main draw next year.

The Azkals made several last ditch efforts to break the ice even in the injury time but their efforts went to naught as the taller Palestinians proved to be tough nut to crack.

Filipino-British Rob Gier nearly scored off a free kick but was frustrated by goalkeeper Abdullah Saidawi.

Caligdong, who scored a goal in the Azkals’ 2-0 win against Mongolia in the pre-qualifying in Bacolod City last Feb., also tried, but his shot from outside the box in the 85th went straight into the hands of Saidawi.

Tuason, a member of the University of Santo Tomas football team who subbed for Simon Greatwich, showed his potential when he blocked a flowing shot by Ashraf Nu'man in the 67th.

The Palestinians got the better of the Azkals in the first half by making several attempts. They hit the crossbar twice.

Another scoring opportunity came for Palestine when Simon Greatwich was booked for a yellow card in the 35th for diving inside the box, but the shot was blocked by the solid Filipino wall.

It was rugged first half as Chieffy Caligdong, went down at least twice against taller Palestinians, who put premium on defense by having five midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 formation

source : manilabulletin

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MB Azkals fight for survival against Palestine Wednesday

(MB) MANILA, Philippines — After blowing away a golden chance to win their opening game against Myamar, the Philippine Azkals are now in a must-win situation when they tangle with group leader Palestine in Day 2 of the group stage of the AFC Challenge Cup Wednesday at the Thuwunna Stadium in Rangoon.

The 5 p.m. match is of utmost importance for the Azkals, who need to win their remaining two games – the other against Bangladesh on Friday – to stay in the hunt for one of the two berths at stake in the main draw next year.

The Azkals, who were held to a 1-1 draw Monday night, are tied with Myanmar at second with one point each in the four-nation Group A.

Palestine, which romped to a 2-0 victory over Bangladesh also last Monday, leads the group with three points. A win is equivalent to three points while a draw one.

The top two teams at the end of the single round group elimination will advance, along with other top two finishers in three Groups B, C and D in the Elite 8 finals next year.

Myanmar takes on Bangladesh in the second game at 7:30 p.m.

A victory over Palestine will put the Filipinos on top of the group with four points although Myanmar can also forge a tie for the top spot should it dump Bangladesh in the second game. A defeat for the Filipinos and a win by Myanmar, however, will put the Philippines on the brink of elimination as Palestine will earn another three points entering the last playdate on Friday.

The Azkals found themselves on retreat for most part of the early goings opposite and aggresive Myanmar side until an opportunity presented itself when Kyaw Zin Htet was redcarded in the second half.

Filipino-British James Younghusband did not squander the opportunity, converting the resulting penalty kick in the 76th minute that sparked wild celebration among a tiny group of Filipinos in the 32,000-seater venue.

But the party proved to be short-lived.

Defender Khin Maung Lwin, benefiting from a free kick off a foul by Azkals’ Simon Greatwich, hit the equalizer deep in injury time.

It was a frustrating moment for the Azkals as the shot went around the wall and sped past goalie Neil Etheridge, who was successful thwarting a string of headers early on.

The Azkals are expected to keep a close watch on Murad Eleyan who scored a brace – in the 46th and 65th minutes – in the Palestine's latest win.

Meanwhile, the replay of PH-Myanmar match will be shown on Studio 23 from 10:15 p.m. to 1:15 a.m. Wednesday.  

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Azkals draw 1-1 vs Myanmar

MANILA, Philippines – Khin Maung Tun rescued an attack-minded 10-man Myanmar side with a goal deep in injury time that salvaged a 1-1 draw against the Philippine Azkals at the start of the group stage of the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup a Monday night at the Thuwunna Stadium in Rangoon.

Tun, defender, scored the equalizer in the 92nd minute off a free kick resulting from a foul by midfielder Simon Greatwich as the hosts spoiled the Azkals’ early celebration.

The shot which went around the wall and slipped past Azkals goalkeeper Neil Etheridge ruined the early party of the Filipinos, who already looked headed for a victory after Filipino-British James Younghusband scored a winner in the 76th minute.

Stepping up for his injured and absent brother Phil, James hit his sixth international goal for the Philippines off a penalty kick around the same time when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake, according to US Geological Survey, rocked Luzon at home.

It was the second time both teams battled to a draw in three months, the first ending in scoreless draw during their AFF-Suzuki Cup outing last Dec.

With the draw, both the Azkals and the Burmese collected one point apiece in the group stage which stakes two berths in the main draw next year. Had the Azkals protected Younghusband’s goal, they could have piled up three points in the singles round robin eliminations.

As a result, the Philippines will need to win its next two matches against Palestine and Bangladesh. The Azkals battle the Palestinians at 7:30 p.m. in the same venue Wednesday.

Myanmar went a man down when one of its players was shown a red card 10 minutes before the regulation ended.

But the hosts refused to just roll over and die before Tun scored the equalizer that sent some 30,000 hometown crowd in wild frenzy.

The first half saw the Burmese side attacking the Filipinos relentlessly but the 6-foot-3 Etheridge was always there to frustrate the hosts no end.

Etheridge showed his capability early when he saved a header from Pai Soe in the 8th minute. He made a spectacular save off a header Yan Paing 10 minutes later.

Legions of Azkals fans were disappointed at home as the match was not aired live on ABS-CBN's Studio 23. (MB)

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