Azkals lose on penalties after battling to a 1-1 draw with Icheon Citizen

During normal time, the Philippine National Football team seemed to have the better of the game, but with the score at 1-1 at the full-time whistle, the game entered penalties to decide the winner for this friendly. In what proved to be quite a competitive game, Icheon Citizen took an early lead when Bin Tae Wan slotted home at the twenty-first minute. A great through ball put him in on goal and with Ed Sacapaño back-tracking, the Korean forward had the whole goal to aim at and confidently put the visitors 1-0 up. Soon after, though, controversy followed as new Azkal striker Denis Wolf was brought down. At first the referee signaled a penalty before his linesman raised the flag. After a brief discussion the referee changed his decision, awarding the Azkals a free-kick on the edge of the area with replays behind the two officials showing that Wolf was inside the area when fouled. Coach Michael Weiss was clearly unhappy with the decision after the game, too noting that “Everybody could see it was a clear penalty”. Both teams played high defensive lines contributing to an attractive game of football. The Azkals defense seemed much more disciplined this time around. With Robert Gier and Nestorio Margarse in the center, Jerry Barbaso on the right and Roel Gener on the left, the defenders were playing in more natural positions. Icheon Citizen had the next opportunity though and a lobbed through pass sent the goalscorer Bin Tae Wan through again, but the linesman flagged him offside before he cheekily lobbed Sacapaño in goal. He received a booking for kicking the ball after the whistle had gone but the striker didn’t appear to be offside, perhaps justice for the fans’ rightful anger at the penalty decision earlier. Playing the high defensive line allowed the Azkals to attack further up the pitch and Chieffy Caligdong again provided the creative spark for the team. Making his debut, Denis Wolf impressed upfront and came close when he turned to give himself some space and shot narrowly wide. Three minutes later Ian Araneta found an opportunity but he too couldn’t find the target. Playing so high up, though, Gener was exposed at left back and Bin Tae Wan fed Seung Cheol Kim who shot narrowly wide of the goal as neither team managed to take any more of the chances they were creating before the break. Second Half After halftime the Azkals almost found themselves 2-0 down as Sacapaño spilled a cross with the ball bouncing in front of him. It fell to Moon Joo Woon, the Icheon captain, who spun on the ball and shot at goal but the Azkals keeper recovered in time to position himself well for the shot. The Korean captain had an eventful second half, but not before the Azkals had a few forays forward in search of an equalizer. Chieffy and Misagh Bahadoran on the wings switched sides, with Chieffy moving to the right, and he skillfully weaved his way past the Korean defenders before blasting wide from an acute angle. Playing a better line, the Azkals put in the work to track back their defensive assignments with Jerry Barbaso and Rob Gier notably sliding in on the Korean captain, Moon, who had been released on the left. The Azkals could have gone on to equalize soon after when Denis Wolf dribbled forward but he elected to shoot rather than play in Chieffy Caligdong who was free on the right. Moon Joo Woon then could have been sent off later on as he dived in on Carli De Murga with two feet and studs showing. A dangerous tackle, he escaped punishment by holding his own leg and writhing on the floor after he clipped the Filipino defender. The Azkals would have been further incensed had Moon managed to take the next chance as a nicely floated cross found him in space at the back post though his header was cleared off the line. The Azkals then went back on the attack and Denis Wolf turned onto his right foot to power a shot at goal. Only a fine save by goalkeeper Hwang Sae Ha kept the scores level though there was little the keeper could have done about the resulting corner. The ball was worked out to Marwin Angeles, who was lurking just outside the area, and he blasted the ball through the crowd of players and into the roof of the net. No doubt unsighted by the bodies in the box, Hwang Sae Ha got a touch to the ball but it proved too strong for him to turn over the bar. With the equalizer, the Azkals wound down the clock to end the game 1-1. As an exhibition game, though, the organizers decided that a winner must be found between the two sides and the game entered penalties to decide who would win the Kia Rio Cup. Na Kwang Hyun sent Sacapaño the wrong way to put Icheon ahead in the penalties before Angel Guirado blasted against the bar. A flawless record, Kim Seung Cheol, Lim Hyun Woo and Ko Kyung Joon scored for Icheon between successful conversions by Chieffy Caligdong and Ruben Doctora. Down in penalties, the Philippines turned to Carli De Murga to score and keep the Azkals in the tie but he shot well high of the goal and Icheon Citizen won the game, 4-2. All in all the Korean side proved good competition for the Azkals and both sides had their chances to win the game in normal time. It must also be remembered that this was a fundraiser and aside from the good preparation and experience it gave to many regulars, and some fringe players, the game will help to ease the suffering of those affected by Typhoon Sendong. There will also be a lot of positives to take for the Azkals themselves. Solid performances from Denis Wolf, Nestorio Margarse and Jerry Barbaso will stake their claim in the team as the Azkals look to add depth ahead of their next challenges and the training camp in Dubai. – AMD, GMA News