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.

Azkals Coach Sees Challenge Cup Success

Playing in front of their growing legion of fans, Philippine Azkals coach Michael Weiss believes they will give his players an extra zest to top 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers on March 22-26 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The presence of other key foreign-based booters for the qualifiers, according to Weiss, is another reason why they could dominate the event that will also be participated in by last year’s runner-up Turkmenistan, Brunei and Cambodia.

North Korea won’t defend its title after getting a slot to the AFC Asian Cup in 2015 as a result of its win last year.

“This is a very serious tournament because in the Philippines, it’s not allowed to lose so we have to win the tournament,” said Weiss, who at presstime has yet to sign the six-month contract extension offered by the Philippine Football Federation.

The top team in the five qualifying groups will advance to the main stage of the Challenge Cup set next year in the tiny island of Maldives. The remaining three slots will be filled by the three-best second placers.

The period of the qualifiers are set during the FIFA international friendly dates, meaning that clubs worldwide will have to release their players if needed for national team duty.

Among the key Azkals playing abroad are Fulham goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, Hoffenheim’s Stephan Schrock, Dennis Cagara, Paul Mulders and Rob Gier, who did a fine defensive job during the AFF Suzuki Cup.

“And I think on home soil and with the players that will be available, we have a very good chance because it’s an international FIFA date,” added Weiss. “It doesn’t mean all of them will come but I expect most of them here.”

Etheridge, Ott back for Burma friendly

Now available after skipping important tournaments last year, goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and midfielder Manny Ott have been recalled for the Philippine side that will face Burma (Myanmar) in an international friendly in Yangon next week.

Etheridge missed the AFF Suzuki Cup last year due to commitments with his club Fulham, while Ott also focused on his club career in Germany last year, forcing him out of the AFC Challenge Cup as well as the Suzuki Cup.

But with the Burma friendly on Feb. 6 falling on an international date, there seems to be no problem securing the release of Ether-idge and Ott to the team which is preparing for the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers in March.

The Azkals will face Turkmenistan, Brunei and Cambodia in the Group E Qualifiers from March 22 to 26 at Rizal Memorial Stadium. Only the top team in the group will advance to next year’s main tournament in the Maldives.

England-based defender Rob Gier, who is coming off a rock-solid performance in the Suzuki Cup, is also expected to return to the side for the Myanmar match.

After the Burma match, the Azkals may stop in Thailand to play a local club either on Feb. 9 or 10, according to Philippine Football Federation general secretary Ed Gastanes.

Azkals manager Dan Palami said the other players based in Europe like Stephan Schrock, Jerry Lucena and Dennis Cagara will be called up in the late stages of the preparation or just during the tournament itself.

source: sports.inquirer.net