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Philippines, 26 Nov 2024 |
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PHIL YOUNGHUSBAND?S TWO GOALS SENDS PHILIPPINE AZKALS INTO A SUDDEN DEATH VS TAJIKISTAN By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Mon, 12 Mar 2012  Two goals by prolific striker Phil Younghusband gave the Philippine Azkals a 2-0 win against 2008 AFC ?Challenge Cup? Champions India and set up a sudden death match against Tajikistan on Tuesday for a place in the final four. The AFC ?Challenge Cup? website characterized the victory as ?one of the biggest upsets in the history of the AFC Challenge Cup? in a match that demonstrated how far the Philippines has come in the past two years. The win kept alive the Azkals hopes of a place in the final four while 2011 South Asia Football Federation Champions India became the second side out of the reckoning following 2012 AFC Challenge Cup hosts Nepal. The victory was a fitting birthday gift to the Azkals German coach Michael Weiss who before the match told the Manila Standard a win over India would be the best gift of all. The Philippines played attractive, attacking football with some excellent long balls interspersed with short, snappy, one-touch passes that pressured the Indian defense throughout the game. But it was India who started off promisingly as they put the pressure on the Azkals as expected right from the kickoff with midfielder Reisangmi Vashum firing a shot just inches above the crossbar in the fifth minute but that early effort was the only real threat the Indians posed throughout the first half. In the 10th minute a trademark long throw in by Jason Sabio saw James heading the ball back to brother Philip who angled a left-footed shot past the outstretched hands of the Indian keeper Karanjit Singh to send the faithful band of Filipino supporters waving their Philippine flaglets and cheering in delight. Angel Guirado burst through the Indian defense with a nice run before Paul Mulders took a shot from way out in the 30th minute. Phil Younghusband had another chance to add to the tally in the 42nd minute when he picked up a terrific pass from Chieffy Calidong but his shot was deflected wide of the upright by the Indian keeper but instead of a corner, the referee gave India a goal kick to ease the pressure. The former Chelsea reserve striker who was given his first break at the English Premier League club by current Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho showed his remarkable footballing skills although he missed chances in the 36th minute when his shot sailed over the crossbar while his next attempt in the 43rd minute missed the upright by inches although it was clearly deflected by keeper Singh. The Indians started off with a sense of urgency in the second half but resolute defending by the backline and some excellent tackling in midfield left their captain and star striker Sunil Chettri starved of any decent passes to work with almost throughout the match. Weiss, probably saving Chieffy Calidong for the vital game against Tajakistan pulled him out and sent in Misagh Bahadoran in the 48th minute. Rob Gier and Chetri banged heads while going for the ball in mid-air with both players falling on the pitch and Gierb having to be carried off the field on a stretcher in the 59th minute but Gier returned some three minutes later as the Azkals, playing with ten men held on defensively with Juan Guirado dropping back to fill in the gap. India had a chance in the 67th minute but defender Raju Eknath's header was well wide after he managed to connect with Syed Nabi's free-kick. Some great passing between Bahadoran and Guirado saw James Younghusband?s powerful shot sail over the crossbar. After a great run by Mulders who zig-zagged his way past several defenders Phil Yoiunghusband latched on to another superb pass by brother James to whip an angled shot past Indian keeper Singh in the 74th minute to score his second goal of the match and his 20th in international competition for the Azkals. It was a brilliant one-two by the brothers and effectively put the match beyond India?s reach and set the stage for a mouth-watering showdown with Tajikistan who earlier lost to North Korea also by a 2-0 margin to put both the Philippines and Tajikistan in second place behind defending champions DPR. It was a classic strike that saw keeper Karanjit Singh rooted to the spot and beaten all ends up. However, he made a superb save a couple of minutes later following a fine pass by Mulders but after another excellent run by Guirado he was substituted in the 80th minute by Marvin Angeles. Bahadoran who had his moments dribbling past his defenders had a solid strike at goal in the 85th minute but his shot ballooned over the crossbar. 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 Etheridge lost in the shuffle. Despite an added 3 minutes neither side was able to score although it seemed like the Azkals wanted one more goal which would have given them an advantage in goal difference over Tajikistan which would have meant progressing to the semi finals if they draw with Tajikistan who won the ?Challenge Cup? in 2006. The ?Challenge Cup? website reported ?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.? Photo: Phil Younghusband attacks for a goal. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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