Azkals eke out goal vs LA Galaxy rout, PHL football gets boost
The LA Galaxy put six goals past the Philippine National Football team as they won 6-1 in a packed Rizal Memorial Stadium. True to form, David Beckham opened the scoring on the 20th minute with a typically immaculate finish, curling from outside the box past the outstretched fingers of Sacapano.
Giving the keeper no chance, Beckham then went on to supply a hat-trick of goals before being substituted late in the game.
After the opener, Beckham then supplied the cross for Mike Magee to head in on the 28th minute mark. The Azkals bit back minutes later though as Phil Younghusband turned his defender and curled in a shot that rivalled that of his hero’s.
Azkal Phil Younghusband takes aim while David Beckham of LA Galaxy sizes him up. The Galaxy deal the Azkals a 6-1 rout Saturday evening in Manila's biggest football match in recent memory. photo: Roehl Niño Bautista
The back to back UAAP Cheerdance Champions—the UP PEP squad—provided the half-time dazzler as Manny Pacquiao’s presence was announced to the capacity crowd.
Even David Beckham acknowledged the presence of the Filipino legend. When substituted in the second half, he went to Pacman and in their conversation between masters of sport, he gave Manny Pacquiao his shirt from the game.
"I wanted to play in front of Pacquiao. I think he's not only a gifted athlete but a good man," Beckham said later.
Before his substitution though, he went on to complete his hat-tricks of assists as his corner fell to Ireland’s all-time top scorer Robbie Keane, who put the Galaxy 3-1 ahead before crossing in for Adam Cristman to give the Galaxy a 4-1 lead.
Azkal Manny Ott tries to maneuver the ball past superstar David Beckham of the LA Galaxy. It was Galaxy's first friendly match in the Philippines. Photo: Danny Pata
The biggest cheer of the day fell to David Beckham as he made way late in the second half, staying on despite being expected to play only in the first half.
The LA Galaxy didn’t let up though and with Jason De Jong getting his customary yellow card the US champions pushed on to score again through a Gregg Berhalter penalty and then Cristman, who grabbed his second goal, as the Galaxy won 6-1.
"The score doesn't reflect the game"
The newly crowned US champions were quick to thank the Philippines and after the game David Beckham acknowledged the hospitality of the nation and their potential in football.
When asked what he would tell the Azkals to help them improve he replied: “I don’t need to tell them anything, they did well tonight. The score doesn’t reflect the game.”
Phil Younghusband was elated about scoring a goal in the same game as his childhood hero: “During the game you don’t think much about who you’re scoring against as the goal put us back in the game but afterwards you realize the significance”.
"We lost our concentration and we lacked conditioning," the Azkals' German coach Michael Weiss said.
While praising the Philippine Azkals for their talent and spirit, LA Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said the MLS champion's stamina and style of play eventually won out.
"The Filipinos played a good game in the first half but we wore them out in the second half because of our fast pace," Arena said after the friendly match in a nearly-packed Manila stadium.
"We lost our concentration and we lacked conditioning," the Azkals' German coach Michael Weiss said.
Some 10,000 people showed up for the game in a country where football has been deeply overshadowed by the national past time basketball, eager to set eyes on Beckham.
LA Galaxy departs on Sunday for Australia for the last leg of their Asian tour.
The months ahead
The next step for the Azkals will be the AFC Challenge Cup in March. With Aly Borromeo likely to be out injured Chieffy Caligdong will retain the captaincy and was defiant despite the Philippines being drawn against three past winners in their group of four.
“Hindi ako takot,” Caligdong replied when asked about the Philippines’ chances of advancing from the group, “Malakas ang Pilipinas!”
Phil Younghusband echoed that sentiment stressing that if the players can all be available and if they do well in the training camps they have a decent chance of advancing.
A year ago the Philippines reached the semifinals of the Suzuki Cup and the return of football to the country began.
After qualifying for the final stage of the AFC Challenge Cup and the Second Round of World Cup Qualification the Philippines became the most improved country in the world according to ELO ratings.
A year since the Suzuki, the Philippines hosted the 2011 Major League Soccer champion and the biggest football star of the past decade, whose own future remains uncertain.
While we may not know now which club he will go to next, Beckham has said his next goal is to be part of the Great Britain team at the 2012 Olympics and then—as some sports pundits have ventured—to retire soon afterward.
The Philippines may well be one of the last countries to see the most capped English international football player in action on the pitch. — with Agence France Presse/ELR, GMA News
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