AFC Challenge Cup: Azkals suffer 2nd-half collapse against Turkmenistan

(Update 2 - 8:40 p.m.) Phil Younghusband scored one in the 25th minute, but Turkmenistan recovered in the second half and scored two consecutive goals to book the first finals ticket in the AFC Challenge Cup.

 

The Azkals missed three important players in their knockout game against Turkmenistan, but the boys in Blue came out aggressive to score the go-ahead goal against Turkmenistan in the first half of their semifinals match.  

Phil Younghusband scored a header in the 25th minute for his fourth goal in the tournament. The goal came via a Paul Mulders cross from the right side. With only the Turkmenistan keeper in front of him, Youghusband received Mulders' pass to head it in straight to the goal.

 

Turkmenistan tried to counter, but Neil Etheridge managed to get several crucial saves. Before the halftime whistle sounded, Turkmenistan tried to flip a header past Etheridge, but with the ball reaching the net, the linesman declared the Turkmen offside.

 

In the second half, both squads tried to go on the offensive. The Philippine defense started strong, finding an anchor in Etheridge, who responded well against the Turkmenistan offense.

 

But in the 80th minute, Turkemenistan's Arslanmyrat Amanov finally found a hole in the Azkals defense to punch in a long ground ball beyond the box, right past Etheridge for the equalizer.

The Turkmen weren't finished, as they pounded the Azkals defense. And in the 85th minute, Gahrymanberdi Chonkayev slalomed through three Azkals defenders to score past the Filipino-British keeper.

 

The defensive woes continued for the Azkals, as Etheridge was booked for a red card on the 92nd minute. Carli de Murga stepped in as keeper to save the free kick awarded to Turkmenistan. "This is a very disappointing game. We were closer to the victory but we settled down too deep. I wish we could have given them more pressure after taking a lead. But we failed to do so," coach Michael Weiss said in the post-match news conference in Nepal. "If we had full squad today, we would have beaten them. The levelling goal which we conceded was unnecessary. The second goal was due to mistake by defenders. But overall, we did well in the entire tournament. We are ambitious to play for third place...we have done better than most people expected us to do and we have represented the Philippines very well." Weiss also said.

The Azkals now wait for the loser of the other semis match between North Korea and Palestine for their opponent in the battle for third place.  — JVP/ELR, GMA News