Azkals upset Tajikistan with 2-1 win, advance in Asian tournament

Angel Guirado pulled the Philippines' national football team through the group stage of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup with a goal and an assist in a surprising 2-1 victory over Tajikistan on Tuesday in Nepal. By upsetting Tajikistan, former AFP Cup champions and ranked 11 rungs higher in the current FIFA rankings, the Philippine team booked a ticket to its first appearance in the Challenge Cup semifinals. The Challenge Cup is a biennial tournament for the lowest ranked Asian national teams. The winner qualifies to play the best teams on the continent in the Asian Cup held every four years. By advancing in the Challenge Cup, the Azkals have a chance of winning its first major tournament and significantly improving its world rankings. “Our target is the semifinals and our dream is to become champions,” team manager Dan Palami had said prior to the team’s departure from Manila. They have done well so far, having vanquished India and Tajikistan—two former Challenge Cup champions.   Azkals kept the pressure on   The Azkals were aggressive from the start and had more attempts, but a questionable goal was given to Tajikistan before halftime to leave the Azkals behind, 1-0.   “The goal seemed to deflate the Philippines who started the second half without the vigor of the opening period but things changed in the 54th minute…” the AFC said in its account of the match.   “Angel Guirado robbed Davronjon Ergashev on the left channel, charged to the byline and fired the ball past Tuychiev and across the face of goal where Phil Younghusband was on hand to fire the ball into the empty net for his third of the tournament,” the AFC added.   The Azkals pressed on, with the 6-foot3 Guirado using his height advantage to punch through a header in the 80th minute to get the go-ahead goal.   The Philippines kept the Tajikistan keeper busy, attempting 14 shots to Tajikistan's seven. Neil Etheridge had two saves for the Azkals, while his counterpart managed to prevent 11.   The Azkals face Turkmenistan on Friday but without Guirado and James Younghusband, who are automatically suspended from the next match because they accumulated two yellow cards each in the group stage.  — with Ronin Bautista/ReneeFopalan/ELR/HS/YA, GMA News