AFC Challenge Cup: Azkals open campaign with draw versus Afghanistan following weather delays

(Updated 12:21pm) After stormy weather pushed back kickoff by an hour and a half to 1am Philippine time, the Azkals eked out a scoreless draw against Afghanistan, at the Addu Football Stadium in Addu City, Maldives, Tuesday (early Wednesday, PHL time)

The Azkals are staying at the Herathera Island Resort, which is about a 20-30 minute boat ride away from the main island of Addu City. The weather conditions before the game, however, were so bad that the trip took closer to 50 minutes. Additionally, an attempt to move to a bigger boat in the middle of the trip was made and then scrapped since the boats could not be connected because of high waves.



The Afghanistan team, which is staying in the same resort, left the island only after weather conditions improved, leading to the push back in kickoff time.

Azkals coach Thomas Dooley initially went with the Starting XI of Neil Etheridge, Daisuke Sato, Juani Guarido, Jerry Lucena, Simone Rota, James Younghusband, Martin Steuble, Paul Mulders, Patrick Reichelt, Stephan Schrock, and Balot Doctora. However, a last-minute change switched Chris Greatwich for Mulders, as the latter suffered from sea sickness because of the bumpy boat ride.

There were more, dangerous attempts by Afghanistan early in the first half, but Neil Etheridge took good care of the Philippine goal.

At about the 12th minute, the head referee’s nose started bleeding, causing a couple of minutes of stoppage.

The Azkals finally had a few attempts, but they seemed less threatening than Afghanistan’s chances. At the 17th minute, Chris Greatwich was brought down on the pitch for the second time in the game. A couple of minutes later he needed to be subbed out for Jason de Jong because of injury.

Afghanistan was also unlucky with their attempts, with most of their chances feeling slightly undercooked.

De Jong made good of the substitution and at the 26th minute, he launched an attempt from the edge of the box, but the ball went straight to the Afghan keeper. Four minutes later, Schrock rocketed the ball from about two-thirds down the pitch, missing the goal by inches and perhaps putting a little bit of fear into the keeper.

There were two minutes added in the first half, which were rather eventful but for the wrong reasons.

James Younghusband was tackled as he sped down the wing, making the Philippine bench get up in protest as the player from Afghanistan was not even cautioned. In the last minute, the Azkals earned a corner. The ball found Younghusband, whose header hit the crossbar. De Jong got the rebound but his attempt was saved by the keeper.

The second half started out better for the Philippines, who seemed to finally get their legs back under them. Two minutes in, Schrock tried again from the left side, but his attempt went straight to the keeper. This was followed by a barrage of chances for the Azkals, but nothing found the back of the net.

At the 66th minute, OJ Porteria came on for James Younghusband, perhaps in a bid to add more fire power. Three minutes later, it was defense that saved the day, as Lucena was able to stop an attacking Afghan player right in the box without even touching him.

At the 76th, there were two massive chances for the Azkals. A lob from Schrock caused trouble inside the box, making the keeper and a defender collide. The clearance fell to Sato, but his thunderous shot was saved by the keeper. Then, Doctora sent a cross to Schrock inside the box, but the ball just blew past him.

The Azkals poured on the pressure in the last 15, but the goals were not forthcoming.

In the final moments of regulation, Schrock’s long-range try was tipped away. Attempts off a free-kick and a corner shortly after were for naught. A header by Patrick Reichelt at the 89th minute also failed to connect, going wide left.

With four minutes of added time, Afghanistan went the other way, but their header at the 91st minute hit the bar.

Martin Steuble gave one last shot at the 93rd minute, but it too was tipped away.

In the prior Group B game, Turkmenistan dominated Laos 5-1. Turkmenistan has three points, followed by the Philippines and Afghanistan with a point each. Laos is in last place with zero points.

The Azkals will look to rebound against Laos on Thursday, when the weather will hopefully cooperate with game schedule. - AMD, GMA News