Azkals top Group E of Challenge Cup qualifiers after Phil Younghusband strike slays Turkmenistan

(Updated 10:28pm) Phil Younghusband hit a missile of a shot at the 67th minute and it was enough to lift the Philippines out of the qualification phase of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup as winners of Group E, following a 1-0 win over Turkmenistan, Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. It was a clash between two of the highest-ranked teams in the AFC Challenge Cup, with Turkmenistan, 140th in the world, meeting the Philippines, 145 in the latest FIFA rankings. Going beyond qualification, the Philippines was also battling for history, and revenge. In both occasions the two nations have met prior, Turkmenistan has won, first, a 5-0 thrashing back in the Challenge Cup Qualifiers in 2009, followed by a narrow and late 2-1 victory which eliminated the Azkals from the 2012 Challenge Cup tourney in the semifinal round. [Related: Azkals ring up 8-0 win over Cambodia] Last Sunday, the Philippines defeated Cambodia by an 8-0 margin, one goal better than Turkmenistan's result against the same side, 7-0, in their game last Friday. So after a very even and goal-less first half, Phil Younghusband got on board when his deflected shot found its way into the back of the net in the 67th minute. Holding on to the lead, the Philippines effectively kept their composure and repelled the Turkmen attack, though Younghusband received his second yellow card for pulling back his defender in the 85th minute. That aside, it was the Philippines' first win over Turkmenistan ever, and assures the Philippines qualification to the main stage of the Challenge Cup in the Maldives next year, as group winners. First half In the very first minute the Philippines showed their intentions as Stephan Schröck stole the ball and found Javier Patiño in space. His half volley was saved and the follow-up blocked with the resulting corner headed over the bar in a bright start for the Azkals. Turkmenistan threatened on the counterattack, slowing the game down when they had the ball in defense, but a long ball over the top in the 12th minute was flicked on and Roland Müller had to be quick to get there first, though the Turkmen forward was called back for offside. Five minutes later, after Angel Guirado headed over a Dennis Cagara cross, Chris Greatwich was booked for bringing down the Turkmen captain David Sarkisov. Phil Younghusband counterattacked next, bursting past his marker and back-heeling the ball for Stephan Schröck, but he was blocked and the Turkmen defender was booked for the foul in a back-and-forth game. The best chance of the first half came next, in the 32nd minute, as a rare mistake from Juani Guirado saw his weak back-pass fall short. Gahryman Chonkayev pounced on the ball but Müller was out again quickly to dive at it and block the opportunity. Then after Arslanmyrat Amanov hit his free-kick over, Phil Younghusband chipped over on the counterattack as both teams went end-to-end, unable to find that final pass or clinical shot. Turkmenistan almost broke the deadlock as Chonkayev’s corner was headed by David Sarkisov, but it looped onto the bar. Several players entered the book as they scuffled after another corner, and Phil Younghusband picked up his first yellow card, handling the ball trying while trying to get on the end of a Schröck cross. Just before the break, Turkmenistan again knocked on the Philippine door, countering and playing a high ball for Ablyov Guvanch, who beat his man for pace, and knocked the ball beyond Müller before Carli De Murga touched the ball round the post to end a fairly even first half. Second half Though coach Michael Weiss had said the team would be more conservative, the Azkals continued to press and try to create chances pushing for a goal.   Stephan Schröck continued to press the play and was at the center of everything the Philippines did offensively. Finding Phil Younghusband from the left wing with a low pass, the Philippines’ top scorer could only tamely hit at Alyhanov with his left foot. Then in the 57th minute Phil Younghusband followed a good tackle to win the ball back, playing in Patiño, and though his pass was deflected, the Fil-Spanish striker managed to get there first and poke the ball towards goal, but Alyhanov got his body in the way well.   As the Kaholeros kept the crowd cheering loudly, Turkmenistan tried to get back in the game. At the hour mark, Sarkisov played the ball out of defense to Atayev and he spread the ball out wide for Amanov. With a good cross into the box, all that was missing was a poacher on the end of it, and Juani Guirado was able to clear unchallenged. Phil Younghusband came close to a second yellow as he pushed Jamanazarov in the back, the defender diving dramatically but the referee deemed there wasn’t quite enough in it for a second card. And it was fortunate as after his brother James Younghusband replaced Angel Guirado, the Loyola striker put the Philippines in front with his 32nd goal for his country. Receiving the ball and tracked by his marker, Phil Younghusband first lost, then won the ball back in the 67th minute. With only Schröck in support, he found the Hoffenheim defender, who after some good work ,was supported by Dennis Cagara, who tried to find Schröck near the penalty spot. A good tackle sent the ball loose in the area and Younghusband pounced on it, to curl into the net. The UFL’s perennial top scorer's shot at goal took a deflection, which beat Alyhanov and broke the deadlock to put the Philippines ahead. In front of a half-full stadium again, Rob Gier was booked in the 77th minute for a foul on Ahmet Atayev, but soon after Schröck put Phil Younghusband through on goal with an audacious flick. The Loyola forward couldn’t properly adjust his feet though, and hit a tame effort straight into Alyhanov’s arms. Things then hit a sour note for the Philippines, as in the 85th minute, Phil Younghusband was sent through but tracked by two defenders, he was caught. Tackled by Akymyrat Juumanazarov, Younghusband grabbed onto the defender, holding him back and clearly tugging his shorts. With little choice, the referee gave him his second yellow card of the evening, which resulted in him being sent off. That means Younghusband will be unavailable for the first game of the Challenge Cup group stage in 2014. But with Turkmenistan unable to repeat their 2012 semifinal reversal, after they overturned a Phil Younghusband 1-0 lead for the Philippines last year, the Azkals ran out 1-0 winners, to beat their foes for the first time in history, and with their seventh clean sheet in nine games to boot. Who advances to the Maldive Islands in 2014? Topping the group, the Philippines will be joined in the final stage by Turkmenistan, as the best runner-up overall, hosts Maldives, Group A winners Myanmar, Group B winners Kyrgyzstan, Group C winners Afghanistan, Group D winners Palestine and the runners-up in that group, Bangladesh. That means the 2014 Challenge Cup winner will be a new country, with former winners India and Tajikistan failing and two-time champions North Korea graduating. Turkmenistan will look to avenge their two consecutive final losses in 2010 and 2012, as well as this 1-0 loss to the Philippines, and so the Azkals may be set for a fierce rivalry for many years to come. - AMD, GMA News