Breaking down the Philippines' win over Myanmar: winning & making history with style

This appears in the Sunday, December 2, 2012 edition of the Business Mirror.
  This one is winning and making history – with style!

by rick olivares picture by mark ypon

On Bonifacio Day, a day celebrated in the Philippines for the nationalist and revolutionary, new and modern-day heroes closed out the day by making history.

The Philippine Men’s Football National Team won their way into the semifinal stages of the 2012 Suzuki Cup after conquering Myanmar for the first time ever with a 2-0 victory.

Phil Younghusband announced rather belatedly his entry into the Suzuki Cup with a resounding goal in the 47^th minute when he latched onto a long forward pass by Jason de Jong for a 1-nil lead.

De Jong’s 30-yard pass was perfect. A superb touch saw Phil beat three defenders – Thein Than Win, Zaw Min Tun, and Zaw Zaw Oo – take one dribble before finishing with his left foot to beat Kyaw Zin Phyo.

In stoppage time, Carli de Murga found Angel Guirado with a similar forward pass. With Myanmar committing more players to the attack in hopes to grabbing a late equalizer, it came down to a footrace between Guirado and Zaw Min Tun. The Fil-Spaniard controlled the ball with his knee and made sure the ball stayed in front of him then hammered home the insurance goal with his left foot that gloriously sent the Philippines to the next round.

Prior to this match with Myanmar, the White Angels owned the Philippines with a 4-2-0 record. However, in the last two meetings between the two countries in this tournament, the final results saw a draw. In this crucial tiff that took place at the same time as the Thailand-Vietnam match at the Rajamangala Stadium (the host country won 3-1), a draw would have still sent the team through but a win would eliminate all the complications of Vietnam pulling a stunning upset and combing through the goal difference.

Let’s break down this historic win.

Balintawak

After Guirado scored his first goal of the Suzuki Cup, he used his hands to form a heart that he put over his chest. He meant three things: it’s all about heart, it’s all about the Philippines, and it’s also for his wife who he misses terribly back in Spain.

And the team played with a lot of heart but also desire. A desire to see this whole business through. Guirado’s goal was pure effort. A singular desire to beat his defender and ensure that we could all breathe a little easier knowing that a late Myanmar goal will not spoil any late night partying and dreams.

The party got started by the Kaholeros in the stands even before warmups. The Filipino fans were on either side of the Supachalasai Stadium and although outnumbered by their Burmese counterparts, they never failed to let their voices be heard. They sang their hearts out. They busted their lungs to sing and cheer. It was positively hair-raising. The other night, I tweeted that “if ‘Lupang Hinirang’ doesn’t get your blood pumping either you are not Filipino or you’re dead.” The crowd last night in the smaller Supachalasai Stadium made the voices even louder and I don’t know about the others but it did give me goose bumps.

And good crowd support is like an adrenaline shot.

Pinaglabanan

After all the all-important first win against Vietnam, the Philippines entered its final group stage match with renewed confidence. The promise of fielding a better team for this competition was coming to fruition. You could see the energy of the players as everyone was active on both sides of the field.

With the team trying to find its rhythm at the start of the match, Myanmar had a couple of chances to score as Kaung Si Thu and Kyi Lin raced inside the box on three occasions but failed to connect on crosses.

It took veteran Jason de Jong to stabilize matters. He defended, made good and accurate passes, and was a link to the attacking and defensive thirds. Then the back four of Carli de Murga, Rob Gier, Juani Guirado, and Dennis Cagara got going with the latter to repelling all sorties coming their way. Their steadfastness and resoluteness on defense was inspiring.

It wasn’t like the Philippines was in a holding pattern. The Henrique Callisto’s of this world cannot accuse the team of parking the bus. There were lots attempts to attack and to pad the lead. Angel Guirado and James Younghusband had very good chances to double the score but failed to do so. When Myanmar redoubled their efforts to equalize, it was all hands on deck in defending. Even Phil Younghusband would track back and chase the midfielders.

Ed Sacapaño, who ably stepped into Neil Etheridge’s large shoes, was sparkling once more at the goal. He read attempts to slip the throughball well and snatched away any threats in the air.

By match’s end, it was a total team effort. And they saved their best for last; a 2-nil win to send the Philippines through to the next stage.

The Azkals not only bettered their 2010 finish with a 2-0-1 record and six points, but they also scored four goals. Two from the veterans – Chieffy Caligdong and Phil Younghusband – and two from the new additions in Paul Mulders and Angel Guirado scored making it a perfect bridge from the past to the future.

The group stages are done with the Philippines waiting its next opponent in a home-and-away semifinals series. The revolution that began in 2010 is now continuing to bear fruit. History is continuing to be written.


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My choice for the Azkals' best player of the group stages here.

With Bob Guerrero and Craig Burrows outside the Thailand National Stadium. In the pic below, with some Myanmar supporters with whom we posed with for posterity right before the match.