Azkals keeper bares secret for penalty saves

MANILA, Philippines – On their way to the Challenge Cup finals, the Philippine Azkals' Roland Mueller made two stunning penalty saves to help his team win.

Mueller explained to ABS-CBN's TJ Manotoc how he cleared the penalty shots that helped the Azkals defeat Turkmenistan and Maldives.

The Filipino-German keeper said he had to move a lot from post to post to distract his attacker from making the goal.

“I try to make him a little bit confused and make him focused a little bit on me,” Mueller said. “I move and try to make him a little bit more shaky.”

Against Turkmenistan, Mueller’s mettle was tested when the Turkmens secured a penalty kick in the 43rd minute of the match. But he guessed right and cleared Aleksandr Boliyan's kick to help the Philippines advance to the semifinal round.

The keeper faced the same scenario in their crucial match against host team Maldives when Ali Ashfaq won a penalty kick in the 54th. Mueller parried Ashfaq's attempt to help the Azkals make a historical trip to the Challenge Cup finals.

“It makes me happy that I saved two penalties... I have a feeling that luck is on my side,” said Mueller, who stepped up to replace the injured Neil Etheridge.

Azkals coach Thomas Dooley said Mueller’s presence was a big factor in their defense.

He said the Filipino-German’s efforts proved that keepers can win games even if they don't score goals for the team.

“The goal keeper has to win games for our team so it's not that he has to score goals and all that stuff but he has to win games… the goal keeper's job is to save the ball, so the less balls he lets on goals, the bigger chance that we have that we don't get scored on,” Dooley said.

“He had two shots that he saved that are unbelievable. So that's what makes a player outstanding and he did more than his job,” he added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Muller keeps faith, hope of PH side

MALE – Two penalty saves in two big games and Roland Muller has clearly shown who’s the boss in between the sticks.

“We maybe have the best keeper in the tournament,” said Azkals coach Thomas Dooley, referring to his star custodian who played a key role in their 3-2 verdict over Maldives in the semis of the AFC Challenge Cup and an earlier 2-0 victory over Turkmenistan in group play.

“You can see he has some great saves, got another penalty today. And I’m not actually afraid of a penalty shot because of the goal keeper. He is a real football player, great timing, so I’m very pleased with him,” he added.

Muller actually didn’t play in the opening game against Afghanistan, a 0-0 stalemate, as first choice keeper Neil Etheridge took the job.

“I respect the coaches’ decision and I knew my time would come. And I’m always ready when the team needs me,” said the Fil-German.

Muller got to take the place of injured Etheridge and didn’t disappoint. His back-to-back penalty saves make a new high for the keeper who traces his roots from Mindoro.

“It’s really luck but it makes me happy I saved two penalties. Yeah, I decided to go one corner based on gut feel and luck was on my side,” he said.

Dooley had said once that Muller won the game for the Azkals but the keeper declined to take credit.

“It contributed to the victory but it’s a team effort,” he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Azkals Go For Cup Clincher

The Philippine Azkals will try to overcome their last enemy in order for them to qualify for the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup. Azkals team will face Turkmenistan today in the final day of the Group E qualifiers at the Rizal Memorial Stadium at 7 P.M.

Azkals are in good mood after they win against Cambodia last Sunday in 8-0 score. A lot of Pinoy Football fans surely went after watching the Azkals match.

The Azkals team sees this opportunity as their redemption from last time failure to play in AFC Challenge Cup.

The Philippines and Turkmenistan are both tied for the spot in the group with six points apiece with the winner getting an automatic slot next year in Maldives.

The loser, however, appears to be on its way to the tiny island as well. Either team may end up with one of the two best second place records from all the five groups provided they won’t suffer a lopsided defeat.

Azkals team lost to the Turkmen, 2-1. in the 2012 Challenge Cup semifinals in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Turkmenistan won after scoring two goals in the final 10 minutes.

But last Sunday game was different, Azkals drew big performances from veteran striker Phil Younghusband and the debuting Javier Patino.

Younghusband scored four goals while Patino made an impression in front of the home fans by hitting the back of the net twice.

Also impressive was Stephan Schrock, whose trickery and ball control at the left side set up numerous scoring chances.

Coach Michael Weiss started Fil-German Roland Muller as goalkeeper in lieu of regular first-choice man Neil Etheridge and the MSV Duisburg booter earned a clean sheet.