Azkals advance to next round of AFC Challenge Cup

This appears in the Wednesday March 16, 2011 edition of the Business Mirror.

Azkals advance to next round of AFC Challenge Cup

by rick olivares

Ulan Bataar, Mongolia – And the Philippine Men’s National Team is moving on. The Azkals weathered the cold, the hostile crowd at the National Stadium, and the rejuvenated Mongolian National Team to advance to the next round of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup with a 3-2 aggregate score.

The Philippines beat Mongolia 2-nil in the away leg at Panaad, Bacolod last February 9 and because of the away goal rule that meant that the “home team”, in this case, Mongolia, needed to win by at least three goals more than whatever the Azkals could score in Ulan Bataar. And although Mongolia won the match 2-1, the final aggregate score of 3-2 wasn’t enough to see them through the next round.

The Philippines got on the board in a hurry when in only the third minute of the game, James Younghusband pounced on a rebound following a cross by Emelio Caligdong. Mongolian goalkeeper Ganbayar Tseveensuren actually managed to parry Caligdong’s shot that was somewhat reminiscent of his striking goal that opened the scoring in Panaad but Younghusband was left unmarked and he coolly slotted the ball into the back of the net for an early 1-nil lead.

But that was as good as the Philippines would have it all match long.

The Blue Wolves, as the Mongolian team is called, got their game going as they stifled the Philippine attack while launching one spirited sortie after another.

If the Philippines’ home game in Panaad was marked by quality possession and fluidity in the attack, the Azkals had trouble stringing up consecutive passes as they labored under the -4°C weather and the cold air blowing from the snow capped mountain of Bogd Khan Uul a few miles away. Even dressed in thermal attire, they were not their usual spritely selves.

Mongolia, at home and clearly buoyed by the friendly crowd, leveled the match at 1-1 following a controversial non-call in the 21^st minute Blue Wolves’ captain Donorovyn Lkhumbengarav, who was clearly offside, hammered home a goal following a nice drop shot by defender Enkhjargal Tserenjav inside the box.

Fourteen minutes later, Blue Wolves midfielder Garidmagnai Bayasgalan equalized when he followed up a saved penalty shot that Azkals’ keeper Eduard Sacapaño saved but was unable to control. The Philippine defenders were caught flat-footed as the Mongolian’s second attempt was true.

Mongolia, the 183^rd rank country in the FIFA rankings, blew several more scoring chances but none more crucial that a shot by Tserenjav that hit the crossbar.

With regular defender Rob Gier and goalkeeper Neil Etheridge unavailable for duty, Fil-American Jason Sabio got his first start for the national team while Sacapaño, the keeper for the Philippine Army football team got his first start.

Sabio who was also shaky in his Panaad debut when he came on for Anton del Rosario – although he assisted Phil Younghusband for the second goal in the Philippines’ home game – gave up the foul that led to the penalty shot by Bayasgalan.

Yanti Bersales replaced striker Phil Younghusband in the 67^th minute after the Fil-Briton was knocked around by the tough defending of Mongolia. In Panaad last month, Younghusband was man marked from the beginning by defender Ochbayar Olzvoi that caused quite a few tense moments as the Mongolian time and again elbowed and knocked down the former Chelsea reserve. Although the marking this time around wasn’t so tight, Younghusband was the recipient of several horrific challenges that caused him to be replaced.

Despite his smallish frame, Bersales, who also suits up for Air Force alongside Caligdong and striker Ian Araneta, had a scoring chance but his shot went wide just outside the right post.

The Philippines advances to the AFC Challenge Cup group stage in Myanmar from March 21-25 in Myanmar with Palestine and Bangladesh. The winner of that group moves to the quarterfinals of the tournament.