Azkals still gave PHL its best ever finish in the AFC Challenge Cup

Coach Michael Weiss navigated through heavy pressure and criticism before the tournament to improve the squad’s cohesion and depth to deliver a third place playoff.   These results will only help in FIFA and ELO rankings. In ELO ratings, which particularly take into account the relative strengths of the opponents, the Philippines have become the most improved country in the world with impressive results against tough opposition.   Next month’s FIFA rankings should also see the Philippines jumping a few places which bodes well ahead of the Long Teng Cup this summer and the 2012 Suzuki Cup.   The Philippines may not get automatic qualification for the Asian Cup but they will have renewed hope when their group of five in the qualifiers is drawn.   The Azkals will now fight for third place in this Challenge Cup in Nepal with the loser of North Korea and Palestine’s Semi Final. The Challenge Cup is the premier tournament for emerging Asian countries. The AFC divides the 46 member countries into developed, developing and emerging nations. The top fifteen countries are classed as developed, the next 14 as developing and the remaining 17 as emerging nations though some countries from the developing section and North Korea from the developed section also participate.   Should the reigning champions win, which is the most likely outcome, the final will be a rematch of 2010’s 1-1 draw, which North Korea eventually won on penalties.   This will mean the Philippines will face Palestine, who they drew 1-1 with in the group stage of Qualification on Monday, to fight for third place on March 19. Highlights   A 25th minute header from Phil Younghusband was defended by the Azkals until the 80th minute when Aleksandr Boliyan’s long range effort beat the impressive Neil Etheridge in goal.   Turkmenistan completed the comeback when Gharymenberdi Chonkayev dispossessed substitute Roel Gener, weaved his way through the defense and smashed the ball past Etheridge in the 86th minute.   Neil Etheridge was then sent off for kicking one of the Turkmen players before the full-time whistle sounded in the Dasarath Rangalasa Stadium in Kathmandu, knocking the Philippines out of the AFC Challenge Cup. First Half   After both teams nervously scouted each other out in the early stages of the game the Philippines made the breakthrough when on the counter attack Misagh Bahadoran found Paul Mulders who burst forward.   He whipped in a great cross from the right for Phil Younghusband who made no mistake to head in for his fourth goal of the tournament. It was also the first goal Turkmenistan conceded in the Challenge Cup.   With the Azkals ahead Turkmenistan pushed forward trying to get back into the game and came close when Gharymenberdi Chonkayev turned his defender and struck hard at goal but Etheridge managed to get a fingertip to the ball and pushed it onto the bar.   The Azkals almost doubled their lead soon after from a corner which fell kindly to Ray Jonsson who shot low and hard but the Turkmen keeper managed to get low to block the shot with his body and keep his country in the tie.   After this chance the Azkals rode their luck for the rest of the half. Turkmenistan started to play higher up the pitch and fashioned a fantastic chance playing a through ball past the entire Azkals’ defense.   The Turkmen winger pulled the ball back but their next player could only tamely prod at the ball and it fell into the path of another striker who poked wide as they seemed to try and pass the ball into the net.   With the buildup, passing and failed finishing of an Arsenal side, Turkmenistan then created a one on one chance with Neil Etheridge but their striker hit too close to the Fulham keeper who got down quickly to block with his legs.   Soon after the Turkmen did find the back of the net as a free-kick was floated in and flicked into the back of the net by Guvanch but he was called back for offside.   The half-time whistle was a bit of a relief to the Azkals, who had been under heavy pressure, but were clinging onto a 1-0 lead going into the break.   Second Half   After the break Turkmenistan began playing with a bit more impetus but the Azkals’ defense held early on. There was a bit of controversy when Umidjan Astanov slid in on Cheiffy Caligdong and got booked, complaining about the booking but replays showed it could have been a red.   Free-kicks were the best early chances of the half, Phil Younghusband winning a free-kick twenty yards out when his shirt was pulled but he blasted into the wall. On the counter Juan Luis Guirado dragged down his man and got booked giving a free-kick away on the edge of the area but that was hit over.   With both teams tiring Lexton Moy came on for Misagh Bahadoran to add more bite into the centre of midfield though it was Chieffy Caligdong who fashioned the next chance, intercepting a poor pass from the Turkmen defense and drilling the ball into the center but it bounced off De Jong and away for a goal kick. Soon afterwards he was replaced by Roel Gener with Rob Gier taking over as captain.   With time running out Turkmenistan pressed higher and went in search of goals. Failing to hit the target after the break Aleksandr Boliyan finally connected well with a shot for the Turkmen and picking up the ball from 25 yards out he brought the ball forward and buried it in the bottom corner with only ten minutes to go.   Just six minutes later the defense seemed to give away the game as Roel Gener took far too long on the ball, was dispossessed by Gharymenberdi Chonkayev, who hit the bar in the first half, and the Turkmen forward darted through the Azkals defense to drive the ball low past Etheridge and send Turkmenistan through to their second successive final.   Furious at his defense, Neil Etheridge was then sent off in the dying minutes of the game as he kicked out at a player while clearing the ball. The Fulham keeper seemed to lose his cool and kicked over a Turkmen player who may well have made a meal of it but the letter of the law was on Turkmenistan’s side there. Carli De Murga took over in goal as all three subs were used. — ELR, GMA News