The Philippine Azkals pounced on their best chance for a victory in
the AFC Challenge Cup group stages, gaining from Phil Younghusband's
brace in a 2-0 conquest of India that boosted their semis bid tonight at
the Dashrath Stadium.
Younghusband struck off a throw-in by Jason Sabio in the 10th minute
and fired a looper off a feed from brother James in the 73rd as the
Azkals (3 points on 1-0-1) forced a virtual KO match with Tajikistan (3
points, 1-01) for the second semis berth in Group B.
Defending champion North Korea took the first seat to the semifinals after thumping Tajikistan, 2-0, for six points on 2-0-0, over at the Halchowk Stadium in the Bagmati Zone.
"I'm very, very happy with the result although I feel we can play much, much better," said Azkals coach Michael Weiss, who took the W on his 52nd birthday.
The Azkals will gun for a dreamed-about Last-4 berth on Tuesday as they cap their eliminations campaign against 2006 titlist Tajikistan.
"We are in the same position (with Tajikistan) and it might come to a shootout. So we have to be very careful and play smart against them," said Weiss.
"I think we'll have slight psychological advantage because Tajikistan came off a very challenging match (in a loss to North Korea) while we're coming off a win (over India)," he added.
Working in tandem with teammates in two crucial sequences,
Younghusband scored his 19th and 20th international goal for Phl in a
morale-boosting triumph over the 2008 winners but currently rebuilding
Blue Tigers.
"Fantastic, cool in front of the goal. That's how we want him to be," said Weiss of Younghusband. It all started when Jason Sabio set up the first goal with a monster delivery that Younghusband wasted no time finishing.
Finding the ball in his area, Younghusband gamely rolled it in past Karanjit Singh, then danced into the sidelines as cheers from over 100 Filipinos engulfed the 56-year-old stadium surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
The star striker struck and danced anew in the 73rd after finishing a sequence started by Misagh Bahadoran from the left to his brother James, who gave a backpass that Phil made good on.
Courtesy of: philstar.com
Younghusband struck off a throw-in by Jason Sabio in the 10th minute
and fired a looper off a feed from brother James in the 73rd as the
Azkals (3 points on 1-0-1) forced a virtual KO match with Tajikistan (3
points, 1-01) for the second semis berth in Group B.Defending champion North Korea took the first seat to the semifinals after thumping Tajikistan, 2-0, for six points on 2-0-0, over at the Halchowk Stadium in the Bagmati Zone.
"I'm very, very happy with the result although I feel we can play much, much better," said Azkals coach Michael Weiss, who took the W on his 52nd birthday.
The Azkals will gun for a dreamed-about Last-4 berth on Tuesday as they cap their eliminations campaign against 2006 titlist Tajikistan.
"We are in the same position (with Tajikistan) and it might come to a shootout. So we have to be very careful and play smart against them," said Weiss.
"I think we'll have slight psychological advantage because Tajikistan came off a very challenging match (in a loss to North Korea) while we're coming off a win (over India)," he added.
Working in tandem with teammates in two crucial sequences,
Younghusband scored his 19th and 20th international goal for Phl in a
morale-boosting triumph over the 2008 winners but currently rebuilding
Blue Tigers."Fantastic, cool in front of the goal. That's how we want him to be," said Weiss of Younghusband. It all started when Jason Sabio set up the first goal with a monster delivery that Younghusband wasted no time finishing.
Finding the ball in his area, Younghusband gamely rolled it in past Karanjit Singh, then danced into the sidelines as cheers from over 100 Filipinos engulfed the 56-year-old stadium surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
The star striker struck and danced anew in the 73rd after finishing a sequence started by Misagh Bahadoran from the left to his brother James, who gave a backpass that Phil made good on.
Courtesy of: philstar.com
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