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AFC Challenge Cup: Azkals shoot down Laos for the first time, pick up three points

By CERES LINA

The Philippine national football team, the Azkals, jumped to the top of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup Group B table temporarily, after besting Laos 2-0, Thursday at the Addu Football Stadium in Addu City, Maldives.

[Related: Azkals open campaign with draw versus Afghanistan following weather delays]

It was the first time in the history of the Azkals that they've beaten the Laos national side.

The Azkals started the game better than their last assignment versus Afghanistan, perhaps due to a better boat ride to the stadium. Phil Younghusband and Rob Gier were back in the Starting XI after serving out their suspensions. Roland Muller replaced Neil Etheridge in goal, as Etheridge came off the last game injured.

Joining Phil, Gier, and Muller were Dennis Cagara, Juani Guirado, Rota, Paul Mulders, James Younghusband, Stephan Schrock, Jason de Jong, and Patrick Reichelt. Gier was captain for the game.  

As early as the second minute, James Younghusband already had a chance, but the ball was collected by the Laotian keeper. This was followed by a barrage of attempts from the Azkals’ Stephan Schrock, Juani Guirado, and Phil Younghusband.

Phil Younghusband was clearly marked by the squad from Laos. At the 31st minute, Laos’ Saison was given a yellow card for manhandling Phil.


The Azkals were clearly dominant in the first half but seemed to lack finishing and seemed unable to capitalize on numerous corners. But at the 40th minute, Schrock made another attempt. The ball bounced off the keeper and landed at Rota’s feet. He slammed it up towards the goal, making the ball graze the crossbar and into the left corner of the goal. So it was that the score read 1-0 for the Philippines at the half.

Coach Thomas Dooley sent on Martin Steuble for James at the half, followed by Amani Aguinaldo for Juani Guirado. Guirado needed to be stretchered off the pitch.


The Azkals continued their dominance in the second half, with even more attempts from Schrock and Reichelt. Then, at the 63rd minute came the second goal for the Philippines. Phil took another corner awarded to the Azkals and Reichelt headed the ball into the lower right corner of the goal. 2-0 for the Philippines with less than 30 minutes left in the game.

At the 72nd, coach Dooley sent on Balot Doctora for Schrock. In the same minute, Phil had a sorry miss. After receiving a cross from Balot, and with only the keeper left in front of him, Phil seemed to hesitate and then struck the ball too high, sending the ball up towards the sky.

In the last 15 minutes, Laos seemed to decide that it was a good idea to waste time. Their players went down easily but the referee seemed to see through their tactic and thankfully, no yellow cards were shown to the Azkals.

There were, unaccountably, six minutes of added time at the end of the second half, but Laos would not really trouble Muller anymore. As the final whistle blew, the Azkals romped off with the Philippines’ first win against Laos, in football, ever, in history.

In the following Group B game, Afghanistan scored 3 to Turkmenistan’s 1. Afghanistan and the Philippines now have 4 points each, followed by Turkmenistan with 3 points, and Laos with 0 points.

The Azkals will only need to draw Turkmenistan to advance to the next stage of the Challenge Cup. Three of Turkmenistan’s players will be unable to play in the game versus the Philippines, including their 2 centerbacks and their main goalkeeper. Their goalkeeper was also their captain in their game versus Afghanistan.   

The game versus Turkmenistan will be held at the National Stadium in Male on Saturday, kickoff is at 7pm Manila time. - AMD, GMA News
Tags: philippineazkals, afcchallengecup
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