RP XI blanks Bhutan but fails to advance in AFC Challenge Cup

BAROTAC NUEVO - The Philippines blanked Bhutan, 3-0, Saturday but missed out on a slot in the AFC Challenge Cup due to goal difference at the Barotac Nuevo Football Plaza here. Defending champion Tajikistan and the Philippines actually finished with seven points on two wins and a draw but the Tajiks advanced, following a 4-0 win over Brunei at the Iloilo Sports Complex. Substitute Chad Gould's 39th minute header off a James Younghusband corner kick opened the scoring for the Filipinos, before Phil Younghusband's right-footed strike four minutes before the break doubled the advantage. An own goal from Bhutan defender Rinchen Pema in the 59th minute made it 3-0 but the Filipinos couldn't add more goals to their tally as they couldn't provide finishing touches on many chances late in the second half. "We played well but we got unlucky," said national coach Norman Fegidero, whose team did not concede any goal in all three games in the tournament. "Medyo kinapos lang kami." Playing before a huge crowd, the Philippines attacked without let-up early on but were almost caught flat-footed on the counter-attack in the 32nd minute when Yeshey Dorji latched on a Kinley Dorji through ball only to be stopped by Neil Etheridge. The Filipinos, who downed Brunei, 1-0, and held Tajikistan to a scoreless draw Thursday, kept possession for long periods, before finally breaking through Gould. Positioned at the far post, Gould rose highest to meet James Younghusband's in-swinging corner. Phil Younghusband struck two minutes later when his deflected shot wrong-footed Bhutan keeper Jigme Singye and went into the back of the net. "To miss out on a slot in the tournament on goal difference is frustrating," Younghusband said. Next up for the national booters is Asean Football Championship Qualifiers set later this year. - Sun.Star