Azkals fight for dear life

Philippines – The Philippine Azkals must beat Bangladesh Friday if they hope to advance to the main draw of the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup next year.

To survive, the Filipinos will have to go through the proverbial eye of the needle since they will be battling a dangerous Bangladesh side in their last group qualifying match at the Aung San Stadium in Rangoon, Myanmar.

Although ranked way below the Azkals in the FIFA world standings, Bangladesh showed a glimpse of its potential when it stunned host Myanmar, 2-0, on Wednesday night.

Against Myanmar, the Azkals could only manage a 1-1 draw last Monday.

The Azkals are ranked 151 while Bangladesh 174th.

Compounding the Azkals’ woes will be the absence of midfielder Simon Greatwich.

The 22-year-old Filipino-British, who earned his first yellow card on Monday, will sit out Friday’s game after being slapped with a second yellow for diving in the penalty area of the Palestinians, who held the Azkals to a scoreless draw the other night.

Game time is 5 p.m. (Manila time) and the Azkals can’t afford to lose or even settle for another draw because that will mean the end of their campaign.

A victory, however, assures them one of the two slots at stake in the tournament’s finals next year.

Held to a draw twice, the Azkals are currently at third spot in Group A with two points behind Bangladesh (three points) and Palestine (four points), which have the best chance of advancing. Myanmar is at the cellar with a point.

The PH-Bangladesh tiff will be held simultaneously with the closing Myanmar-Palestine clash in a different venue to avoid manipulation of the results.

A victory over Bangladesh will give the Azkals five points and a spot to the next round regardless of the outcome of the other match.

But if the Azkals lose or settle for a draw, they will be eliminated.

Midfielder Chieffy Caligdong and newcomer Yannick Tuason showed flashes of offensive and defensive brilliance, but it proved not enough to topple the tall Palestinians on Friday.

“I’m satisfied with the result,” Azkals German coach Hans Michael Weiss was quoted as saying. “I have seen a very strong Palestine team that we really had to endure. It was not an easy match.”

source: manilabulletin

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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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Philippine Azkas Midfielder Jason De Jong won't join Azkals in AFC Challenge Cup

MANILA, Philippines – Midfielder Jason de Jong has ruled himself out of the Philippine Azkals’ matches in the group qualifying tournament of Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup that starts March 21 in Rangoon, Myanmar.

De Jong, who missed the second leg of the pre-qualifying showdown against Mongolia last Tuesday, said his commitments with his club, Persiba Balikpapan, in the Indonesian Super League has prevented him from joining the team in Myanmar’s biggest city, where the Philippines will play the host (March 21), Palestine (March 23) and Bangladesh (March 25) in a single round eliminations.

Team coordinator Patrick Ace Bright broke the sad news about 20-year-old De Jong.

De Jong was able to play in the first leg of the series against Mongolia in Bacolod City.

“Hindi siya pinayagan ng club niya sa Indonesia,” Bright said yesterday.

Star striker Phil Younghusband will also miss the Azkals’ Myanmar campaign after pulling his hamstring last Tuesday against Mongolia.

The return of a key player and addition of promising recruits, though, could offset de Jong and Younghusband’s absence in the tournament.

The Azkals need to win at least two of their three matches in Myanmar to make it to the main draw next year.

Bright said goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and Rob Gier have confirmed their return to the Azkals, while five new players will be added to beef up their line up.

They will have two new strikers in Fil-Spanish Angel Aldeguer Guirado, who will fly in from Spain today, and Fil-German William Espinosa Guiridon plus Fil-German John Patrick Hinrichsen, whose mother is from Pagadian City, and David Basa and Yannick Tuason.(MB)

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Phil Younghusband hopes to play Myanmar game despite injury

MANILA, Philippines – Azkals striker Phil Younghusband hopes to recover from the hamstring injury he sustained during the Azkals’ triumphant game against Mongolia in time for their upcoming match against Myanmar.

In a phone patch report by ABS-CBN sportscaster Dyan Castillejo on “Umagang Kay Ganda,” March 16: “He’s [Phil] hoping that makakapag-recover siya for the game on Monday… he has scheduled [to undergo] an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to check kung ano talaga ‘yung condition ng hamstring niya.”

Castillejo said the Fil-Brit player is still in pain after suffering a pulled hamstring in his right leg in the 65th minute of the game held at the Ulan Bator Stadium in chilly Mongolia on Tuesday. He was replaced by Yanti Barsales.

“Si Phil actually kagabi… nahirapan siyang maglakad, he was limping. Mas masakit na ‘yung hamstring niya… Kasi diba malamig, so he was just running and then it snapped, he felt it. So kagabi masakit talaga siya, much more painful than when it just happened,” she related.

Castillejo added that Younghusband already did some stretching and had his leg examined by the Azkals’ physical therapist. He is also set to undergo checkup upon return to the Philippines on March 17.

The Azkals advances to the qualifying tournament of the AFC Challenge Cup---despite losing to Mongolia’s Blue Wolves (1-2)---with the aggregate score of 3-2, which includes the Azkals’ win in their first game in Bacolod.

Younghusband himself related through Twitter that his injury still hurts and he is anxious that he might not be able to play for the Myanmar match. He also apologized on Tuesday for the Azkals’ loss, but is grateful that they qualified for the next round.

And in his post on Wednesday, Younghusband said: “Magandang umaga! Masakit pa rin ang injury ko. Malungkot pa rin kasi na talo kami kahapon pero yung goal natin was reached, to qualify :).”

In his tweet to Azkals goal keeper Neil Etheridge, he also noted: “I have a scan tomorrow but not sure.”(MB)

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Suzuki to stage U-23 football tourney in PH

MANILA, Philippines – ASEAN Football Federation Cup sponsor, Suzuki, will hold a national under-23 (U-23) football tournament in the country, said Philippine Football Federation chief Mariano Araneta Thursday.

The Suzuki U-23 National Football competition will kick off this March and will run until May, he said.

The PFF chief said the tournament will adapt the rules and guidelines of the AFF, wherein each team will play on a home-and-away series.

There will be a total of 8 teams— 2 each from the country's biggest islands and major region: Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and the National Capital Region.

In the elimination, the 2 teams from each territory will compete for the right to represent their region in the semifinals.

The top 4 will battle their way to the finals.

Araneta said the best players in the tournament will make it to the national team, which will compete in the 26th Southeast Asian Games in November.

Suzuki, a Japanese corporation, has been sponsoring the AFF Cup since 2008.

During the 2010 Suzuki Cup, the Philippine Azkals made its mark in the Asean football scene by defeating then reigning champ Vietnam.

The Azkals eventually climbed their way up to the semifinal round.

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Philippine Azkals to use 'winter uniform' in Mongolia game

MANILA, Philippines – Mizuno, the official outfitter of the Philippine Azkals, unveiled the modified football uniforms to be used by the Filipino booters when they battle Mongolia under Ulan Bator’s freezing conditions.

The sporting goods company, led by its general manager Paolo Cagalingan, turned over the "high-tech winter gear" to the Philippine Football Federation on Thursday.

Cagalingan said the modified gear, which was designed using Mizuno’s "Breath Thermo" and "Thermal Plus" technology, will help the Azkals in their home-and-away Challenge Cup qualifying tie against the Mongolian Blue Wolves.

"We worked on it for so long in order to provide the team with the best gear so that they're comfortable to the match. And for them to focus on the match itself para kumportable sila," Cagalingan said.

The Azkals' modified uniform for the game in Ulan Bator consists of two layers. The inner layer is composed of a long-sleeved top and tights for the legs. The outer layer consists of a sky blue gear with white lining and an embroidery of the Philippine flag on the right sleeve.

Each Azkal will also be provided a pair of socks and gloves.

Araneta was pleased with the Azkals’ new gear.

"PFF has stressed the importance of having the right equipment for the team," he said.

Araneta said the uniforms will be useful in Ulan Bator where the temperature reportedly drops between -2 and -15 degrees Celsius.

Cagalingan said the team will be using the uniform once they begin training in Japan from March 7 to 12.

The PFF hopes the winter in Japan will help acclimatize the Azkals in time for the Mongolia game.

The Azkals clinched a 2-0 victory over Mongolia in the first leg of the Challenge Cup qualifier, which took place at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

The Azkals will again face the Blue Wolves on March 15. (abs-cbnnews)

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Phl Azkals get new look under German coach Michael Weiss

(Phil Star) – The Azkals are undergoing a facelift under German coach Hans Michael Weiss. And so far, team manager Dan Palami likes what he’s seeing. “I’m satisfied,” he said over the phone yesterday. The Azkals are gearing up for their AFC Challenge Cup tie with Mongolia, and only on the first week of training under the seasoned German coach, changes are quite visible on the field. “You can see more precision passing,” said Palami, adding that the Azkals have been training twice a day since Tuesday with no rest called even this coming Sunday. “He’s quite good. He knows what the team needs and he knows how to squeeze the best from the players,” Palami added. Weiss, who took Englishman Simon McMenemy, is as good as advertised, and will have his baptism of fire on Feb. 9 when the Azkals play the Mongolians at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod. Then they travel to Mongolia for the second leg of their tie on March 15. Weiss is coming off a four-year stint in Rwanda as head coach, and has been with the Chinese Football Association as well as the Kyoto Purple Sanga of the Japan Football League. He’s also had internships with Spain’s Real Madrid, England’s Arsenal, Argentina’s River Plate and FC Kaiserlautern. “I’m happy,” said Palami, adding that the Philippine Football Federation now has the list of 30 players from which the final 25 will be culled. Palami said the core of the team that landed in the semis of the recent AFF Suzuki Cup will be around, including goalie Neil Etheridge, Chris and Simon Greatwich, Phil and James Younghusband, Rob Gier, Ray Jonsson, Jason de Jong, Anton del Rosario, Mark Drinkuth, Ian Araneta and skipper Aly Borromeo. Etheridge and the others coming from Europe will arrive in Bacolod on Feb. 6, just in time for the match. The rest of the team leaves Manila for Bacolod on Jan. 26. A few names, foreign sounding but with Filipino lineage have been added to the list, those of new European recruits Dennis Cagara, Jerry Lucena, Patrick Herget, John Hinrichsen, Oliver Potschke and Stephan Schrock. “But it’s still premature to announce the final 25 because some of these new recruits aren’t good enough yet for the team. Medyo hilaw pa. And they’re still working on their (Philippine) passports,” Palami said. The others in the initial list are Jerry Barbaso, Yanti Barsales, Joebel Bermejo, Emelio Caligdong, Chris Camcam, William Espinosa, Mark Ferrer, Roel Gener, Peter Jaligan, Nestor Margarse, Rey Palmes, Kristopher Relucio, Jason Sabio and Eduard Sacapano.

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We deserve to be respected, says Philippines' Gier

(hanoi)Philippines central defender Rob Gier believes he and his teammates have earned the respect of football fans across South East Asia off the back of their surprise performance at this year's AFF Suzuki Cup.

The previously unheralded Filipinos stand on the cusp of qualifying for the semi-finals of the first time in the tournament's 14-year history after drawing with Singapore and a win over defending champions Vietnam.

Those results have left Simon McMenemy's team on top of Group B with the final round of group matches to be played on Wednesday.

The Philippines face Myanmar in Nam Dinh knowing a draw will be enough to take them into the last four at the expensive of either Vietnam or Singapore, two nations that have won the last title three AFF titles between them.

"We've had two fantastic results and for all the coaching staff and Filipinos back home, it has made everyone in South East Asia stand up and recognise what we are doing in the Philippines with regards to football," said the former Wimbledon centre half.

"Certain circles have been a little bit disrespectful to us in our preparation and we hope these two results prove how good we are and hopefully we get a bit more of the respect that we deserve now."

Gier's performance against Vietnam epitomized the spirit within the Philippine camp, the 29-year-old climbing off his sickbed – as did team mate Phil Younghusband – to start against the Vietnamese.
The pair put in an immense amount of work as they saw off a series of relentless attacks from the defending champions before prevailing in what was one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history.

"I don't really know how I got through the game to be honest," said Gier. "Up to kick off I was feeling pretty bad.

"The importance of the game and the adrenaline of a full house of 40,000 people inspired me to get through it. It was a massive team effort.

"Phil Younghusband was pretty sick before the game too and it was a massive collective effort to get through the game. We are both feeling better but still not 100 percent.

"We'll take time to rest our bodies and recover and make sure we are ready for the big game in a couple of days' time. It's difficult for the team at the minute."

While Sunday's win at the My Dinh Stadium was played out in front of a packed stadium backing the home team, the Philippines' attempt to complete one of the most dramatic performances seen in recent years moves to the provincial city of Nam Dinh.

There, in a match that kicks off at the same time as Vietnam's encounter with Singapore, Gier and company face a Myanmar side that has only pride left to play for after their disappointing showing at the year's tournament.

Gier, who is currently playing for English non-league side Ascot United, is fully aware of the significance of the upcoming clash.

"The Myanmar game is a massive game, even bigger than the Vietnam game because if we don't perform against them then all the hard work will have been for nothing," he says.

"We're just making sure we're focused on the task at hand, making sure we get all the injuries sorted out, making sure the tactics are right and, God willing, we'll prevail against Myanmar."

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