Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Azkals gun for Suzuki Cup final in second semis leg against Singapore

Karl Decena, InterAKTV


The Philippine national men’s football team guns for a seat in the final of the 2012 ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup when it clashes with Singapore in the second leg of their semifinal battle Wednesday at the Jalan Besar Stadium in the city-state. The Azkals, who forced a scoreless draw against the Lions last Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in the first leg, only need at least a 1-1 draw, if not a victory, to book a ticket to the tournament final for the first time in history. “Everybody’s excited and everybody must deliver now,” Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss said. “I think we have good chances.” The Azkals will see the return of Fil-Danish midfielder Jerry Lucena, who missed the squad’s last two matches in the tournament due to club commitments. They will also rely on the attacking prowess of brothers Phil and James Younghusband, Patrick Reichelt, Angel Guirado, among others, to provide the much-needed offensive firepower to help them advance to the final. But the Lions, who failed to enjoy the advantage of away goals which, in case of a tied aggregate score, will determine the winner of the series, believe that they can still pull off a victory over the Azkals. “At the end, in football, you cannot guarantee everything,” Lions coach Radojko Avramovic said. “I just hope we have quality and experience to go to the final.” Singapore will once again lean on the attacking duo of team captain Shahril Ishak and the 42-year-old Aleksandar Duric, who both gave headaches to the Azkals defense last Saturday after creating several chances at the goal. The 8,000-capacity Jalan Besar Stadium is expected to be jampacked by both Azkals and Lions fans, as tickets for the match have been sold out just moments after their release. AKTV’s live coverage of the second semifinal leg between the Azkals and Lions will start on 7:30 p.m.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Singapore to defend for their lives

By Paul Masefield, ESPN Star Sports (philstar.com)

SINGAPORE — The first semi-final of this year’s edition of the Suzuki Cup has thrown up a surprise. I have to be honest and say that I didn't think Singapore would top group B and as for the Philippines, to finish runners-up in group A ahead of Vietnam was somewhat of a surprise to me as well. It means that the first leg of this encounter will be held in Manila. And if you look back over this year and the friendly games played between the two teams, it is a slight advantage to the Azkals. Just a couple of days before this tournament started, the Azkals beat Singapore 1-0 in Cebu. When a tournament of this magnitude gets to the semi-finals stage, home advantage is everything. This was epitomized when Malaysia took on and defeated Indonesia in front of a packed crowd at the Bukit Jalil Stadium. The Rizal Memorial Stadium can only hold about 13,000, but I can tell you the stadium will be packed out and the fans will be behind their team. It's a very close game to call, as for me the Philippines have so far managed to get the job done. It was the gritty 1-0 victory over Vietnam in their second game that set them up to progress to the semi finals. They then looked very comfortable against Myanmar in the final group game and emerged 2 – 0 winners. Their only loss to Thailand was an under par performance but they have grown and got better as the tournament goes. Their back line is a pretty solid one. They have experience and managed to stop threats that occur throughout the game. Ray Jonsson, Dennis Cagara, Rob Gier and Juan Guirado have proved themselves to be stubborn at the back and can still offer things going forwards. For me the key element to the success of Michael Weiss’ side was the introduction of Jason De Jong in the second game. This tightened them up defensively and also allowed the more attacking players to be even more creative. Patrick Reichelt has looked promising but out of the most attack-minded players, Angel Guirado has made the biggest impact. He looks comfortable on the ball and works hard for the team. He started the first game but has been used to great effect as a substitute in the last two matches and will be the one to pose a real threat to Singapore. With Phil Younghusband finally opening his scoring account in the tournament, confidence will be high and having already beaten Singapore in that friendly, Philippines will feel that they can do it again. Singapore though will be no walkover. After the opening victory against Malaysia, it went slightly wrong for Raddy Avramovic and his troops against Indonesia. They managed to restore the balance against Laos, but I do have to say it was very nervy, and after getting the starting line up completely wrong in the final group game, he made two changes before half time that turned the match in favor of the Lions. The hero in the Singapore team is undoubtedly Sharil Ishak who is currently the leading goal scorer of the competition. He has just become a member of the prestigious 100-cap club and it was a true inspirational performance against Laos. He single handedly turned the game around and once again scored two goals in a game. With Kharil Amri providing a real threat as well, Singapore will need to have that fighting spirit to overcome the Azkals. The introduction after injury of Shaiful Esah showed that his left foot could help Singapore go all the way to the final. His quality of delivery from wide positions is what helped Singapore piled the goals in the second half against Laos. But while they have threats going forwards, the Lions are usually quite stable at the back. However, they weren’t in the final group game. They will need whoever is going to start for them in defense to really step up and defend for their lives. The two teams have options especially going forwards, which is why this first game is very hard to call. I do expect Singapore to regroup themselves at the back and make themselves difficult to beat. The Philippines will want to push especially as it’s the first leg and this could leave them slightly open at the back and allow Singapore to score on the counter attack. For me, this game is too tight to call which is why I think we will have a cagey, tense affair that will end up in a 1 – 1 draw, with all to play for in the second leg. Former professional footballer Paul Masefield has previously played in England and Asia and is ESPN STAR Sports’ football pundit and commentator. Catch him on the LIVE coverage of the AFF Suzuki Cup when the Philippines takes on Singapore on Saturday 8 Dec on STAR Sports at 7.30pm HKT.

Azkals out to protect turf vs Singaporeans tonight

By Cedelf P. Tupas (INQ)

THE ROAD back to the AFF Suzuki Cup semifinals was a long and tough one for the Philippines. The Azkals earned a home match for reaching the Final Four again, one that means so much, having been deprived to host in 2010 because of the lack of a suitable venue. Determined to rewrite history, the Azkals hope to make the most out of their advantage when they battle three-time champion Singapore in the first leg today of their home-and-away duel at Rizal Memorial Stadium. The second leg is slated Dec. 12 at Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore, but the Azkals would love nothing more than an edge that will put the Lions under pressure. The semifinals will be decided on aggregate scores, with the away goals rule used to break the tie. “We look at this as a 180-minute match,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami. “But we also want to take advantage early.” Having won the last two meetings with Singapore, both friendly matches, the Azkals are brimming with confidence against the proud and defiant Lions, whose fiery coach Radojko Avramovic reminded the tournament upstart what they are up against. “I think the Philippines should respect us more because we are three-time champions,” said Avramovic yesterday at the prematch press conference. “We can make them wait two more years to dream of the finals again.” Coach Michael Weiss fanned the flames of brewing rivalry, saying the Azkals are not just going to give away that opportunity for playing the title easily. “Why would I respect an opponent only because he has titles in the past? For what?” an apparently piqued Weiss said when sought for comment on Avramovic’s statement. While Singapore has been a familiar figure in the biggest stage of the tournament, the Philippines continues to fight for recognition. And it’s this thought that has motivated the Azkals even more. “We will not be complacent,” Palami vowed. “We intend to write our own history. We want to continue making an impact in this tournament.” Led by captain Shahril Bin Ishak, Singapore will come into the game as the highest-scoring team in the tournament with its attack that has yielded seven goals in three games. The Lions also have veteran Aleksandar Duric, who has scored twice against the Azkals in their last four meetings.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Azkals likely to miss 3 key aces in semis opener

BY: Written by BONG PEDRALVEZ (MALAYA)
EVEN before returning to Manila shortly after the Philippine Azkals’ successful stint in the AFF Group A tournament in Thailand, German coach Michael Weiss was seen fretting about the availability of three overseas-based players: defenders Dennis Cagara and Jerry Lucena and striker Angel Guirado. Cagara, Guirado and Lucena had to return to their respective clubs after playing pivotal roles in the tourney where the Azkals finished second in the group behind host Thailand and advanced to their second straight semifinals against Group A topnotcher Singapore. The two sides open the home-and-away semifinal series this Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium. Lucena, brilliant as a midfield maestro in the National’s pivotal 1-0 win over Vietnam, had to return to action for the the Danish Superliga club Esbjerg and was non-committal about his availability for the semis. Bouncing back from forgettable performances in the 1-2 loss to the War Elephants, Cagara and Guirado were vital cogs in the team’s back-to-back triumphs over Vietnam and Myanmar (2-0), but also had to return to German Third Division club SC Karlsruher and Indian club Salgaocar, respectively. Cagara stood as the defensive demon of a sturdy Azkal backline that closed down Vietnamese striker Le Coc Vinh and Burmese scoring midfielder Kyi Lin. The hardworking Guirado set up Chieffy Caligdong’s winning marker against Vietnam and scored in the victory over Myanmar. Guirado and striker Phil Younghusband, who scored the first goal against Myanmar, have emerged as the team’s one-two scoring punch up front. “We need to have Lucena, Cagara and Guirado back with us because they will play important roles in our match against Singapore,” Weiss said. “They were vital in our success in Thailand.” National team liaison officer Ace Bright yesterday said he talking to Guirado and Cagara last night to find out if they would be available for the semifinals against the Lions. “I will know by tonight (Monday) if they can play on Saturday,” Bright said. With defender Ray Jonsson sidelined with a torn right quadricep muscle, having Cagara back takes on an even greater importance in the face of the devastating offense of Singapore, which is keen on snapping a three-game losing streak to the Philippines and continue its own quest of entering the finals. The good news is that Fil-Spanish defender Juani Guirado and Fil-Dutch midfielder Paul Mulders returned with the squad last Saturday and will be available for Saturday’s game. “Because of his slow recovery from jet lag, Mulder decided to return to Manila with us while Juani has been with us even before we left for Thailand,” Palami said.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Azkals to face Singapore in semis; tickets already on sale

By Alder Almo (philstar.com) MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Azkals arrived last night with a little fanfare as their mission has not yet been accomplished. Standing on their way to a first ever Finals appearance in the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup is a very familiar foe – the Singapore Lions. The Lions came out from a deep 0-2 hole against luckless Laos in their match yesterday to win a gutsy come-from-behind 4-3 victory that enabled them to top Group B on goal difference against defending champions Malaysia. The huge win earned them a chance to get back at the Azkals, who twice defeated them in friendlies leading to the tournament. The Azkals are hoping that their streak of luck against the Lions continue as they prepare to host them on Saturday 8pm at the historic Rizal Memorial Football Stadium for the first ever Suzuki Cup home match in the country to be aired live by Sports 5's AKTV on IBC. The Azkals won in Singapore 2-0 last September before repeating with a 1-nil win in Cebu last Nov. 15.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

All Hail Chieffy: Azkals beat Vietnam anew, 1-0

By Alder Almo (philstar.com) MANILA, Philippines - Just when the semis door is about to shut down, the Azkals turned to a fallen hero to repeat the "Hanoi Miracle". Chieffy Caligdong bounced back from a sub-par performance in a 2-1 loss to Thailand to score the lone goal in a 1-0 win Tuesday night at the Ramajangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand that put the Philippine Azkals' one foot in the semis of the AFF Suzuki Cup. With five minutes left in the regulation, Caligdong received a well-placed lob pass in the left flank from Angel Guirado on top of the box and used his left foot to slot in the goal that roared all the way to the Philippines. "Sabi ko sa sarili ko, darating din yung chance na makakabawi ako sa laro ko sa Thailand," Caligdong said in a phone interview with AKTV's Jason Webb and guests La Salle coach Hans Smit and former Azkal Armand del Rosario right after the match. Caligdong, who started against Thailand, came in as the final substitute of the Azkals replacing James Younghusband in the 75th minute which proved to be the turning point of the erstwhile scoreless match. The 30-year old team skipper immediately made his presence felt but failed to connect in an earlier pass by Guirado. The duo linked up again, this time, with Guirado missing a chance to score as his header went straight to Vietnam's keeper Hong Son Duong. It was not until 10 minutes after he came in that Caligdong would get another chance to drill in the country's biggest goal in the tournament so far. "Sobrang saya ko. Ibinigay ko 101%. Masaya kami lahat dito sa dugout but we can't celebrate. May laban pa kami. We have a big chance now to enter the semis," Caligdong added. The Azkals now need to follow up this victory with another one against Myanmar on Friday to officially book a semifinals seat. Thailand clinched the first semifinals slot in their group with a 4-0 demolition of Myanmar in the nightcap for their second win in a row. It was the second consecutive win for the Azkals over Vietnam, their only wins in their eight head-to-head meetings. The ASEAN's top ranked Vietnam (138th) also lost 2-0 to the 143rd-ranked Azkals in the group stages of the same tournament two years ago that signaled the rise of the "Azkal-mania". The Azkals went on to their first semifinals appearance in the region's top flight competition and now has a great chance to repeat or even surpass that feat. Caligdong was not the only hero, who stepped up in this match, for the Azkals. There was Ed Sacapano who was also spectacular submitting a clean sheet after allowing two goals against Thailand in their opening game. Juani Guirado anchored the rock-solid Back Four alongside Rob Gier, Dennis Cagara and Ray Jonsson, who all worked doubly hard especially in the second half when the Red Warriors seemed to have taken control and collared the lion's share of possessions. And there were the coaching staff led by assistant coaches Edwin Cabalida and Edzel Bracamonte, who steadied the Azkals with timely substitutions, in lieu of suspended coach Michael Weiss. Not until Guirado and Caligdong came in that momentum shifted back to the Azkals' favor on the night the country's top striker Phil Younghusband struggled on offense. The Azkals was more compact and played better than the Thailand match early in the first half with Phil Younghusband getting a lot of scoring chances, none bigger than the one he had in the 11th minute. The younger Younghusband, however, muffed the chance to put the Azkals on board as he slipped in the last minute causing him to lose control of the ball. With the Azkals up by 1 in the latter part of the match, Vietnam, who came here looking for the sweet revenge that never came, almost pulled a draw had Le Tan Tai's attempt did not hit the cross bar after Sacapano's deflection. The Azkals' defense held up in the closing minutes when the Vietnamese desperately looked for the equalizer. The Azkals-Myanmar match will be telecast live 9pm on Friday over at AKTV on IBC right after the PBA double-header.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Breakthrough for Mulders

By Cedelf P. Tupas (Philippine Daily Inquirer)
BANGKOK—The agonizing wait for a first international goal ended Saturday night for Paul Mulders at the AFF Suzuki Cup here. But the Fil-Dutch midfielder left the Rajamangala Stadium pitch in a somber mood after the Azkals fell in a 1-2 loss to host Thailand in a bruising encounter at the start of the prestigious tournament. “It would have been better if we got something out of the game,” Mulders said after breakfast at Golden Tulip Hotel here. Mulders had been longing for time on the pitch ever since he linked up with the Azkals here after struggling to get minutes with his Dutch first division club ADO Den Haag this season. Being with the Azkals has become a sanctuary of sorts even though he had misgivings with the position he was tasked to fill when he joined the side. Mulders was deployed as leftback, filling in for the absent Ray Jonsson in the World Cup Qualifying against Sri Lanka last year. Eventually, Azkals coach Michael Weiss assigned the 30-year-old to his preferred position as an attacking midfielder, which augured well in the campaign in the AFC Challenge Cup where he assisted on one of Phil Younghusband’s four goals. It was in the AFC Challenge Cup where Mulders tantalizingly came close to scoring three times. He was up to the task Saturday night. Getting a cutback from the excellent Patrick Reichelt, who came in as a substitute in the 60th minute, Mulders beat Thai goalkeeper Kawin Thamsatchan with a left-footed strike from 10 yards with 13 minutes left to play. “It (the goal) is going to help my confidence a lot,” he said. “I still think we can do better in the next two games.”

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Azkals yield bloody opener to Thailand in Suzuki Cup

By Alder Almo (philstar.com) | Updated November 25, 2012 - 12:16am MANILA, Philippines – A bloodied Philippine Azkals side yielded a close 2-1 loss to host Thailand in the opening of the Group A matches in the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup late Friday night at the cavernous Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. Physically battered at the start, the Azkals battled the War Elephants toe to toe in the first 37 minutes only to surrender a goal in the next minute that signaled the start of their fall. Showing precision in their short passing game, a three-touch combination by the Thais led to a beautiful goal by Jakkapan Pornsai right at the goal’s mouth as Phl keeper Ed Sacapano was caught by surprise. Stunned by the goal, the Azkals let up again on defense as the War Elephants doubled their lead in the span of only two minutes. Anucha Kitpongsri outraced the Azkals’ back four in a counter-attack and baited Sacapano to move out then calmly went to his left to avoid the Phl keeper before slotting in the goal that put more pressure on the visitors. With so much talk on the Azkals’ rise since gate-crashing the Suzuki Cup semis two years ago, the Thais showed the visitors that they are in for a dogfight this time around. Phl’s star striker Phil Younghusband got a nasty cut above his left eye inside the first 10 minutes of the match before midfielder Jerry Lucena got hurt at the back of his head in a mid-air collision. The physicality of the match left the Azkals in total disarray in the first half. The momentum, however, shifted to the never-say-die Azkals in the second half as they pulled one back despite Phil and James Younghusband taken out. Singapore match hero Marwin Angeles came in for Phil at the turn while Patrick Reichelt substituted James in the 60th minute that proved to be a stroke of genius. Five minutes later, Thailand's star Teerasil Dangda left defender Juani Guirado with a bloodied mouth on a wayward elbow that, curiously, only drew a yellow card from the Japanese referee. That incident only fed the Azkals' desire to get back at them with a morale-boosting goal. Reichelt made his presence felt. Fresh off the bench, substitute's pace posed problems for the Thais and his swift cross found an unmarked Paul Mulders, who scored his first international goal in the 76th minute. Suddenly, the Azkals were energized and became the aggressor constantly attacking and challenging the War Elephants’ defense. But just as Phl is making progress in the match, the unthinkable happened. The Azkals’ German coach Hans Michael Weiss was sent off for tossing the ball to a fallen Thai player on the ground. Phl booters tried to rally behind their ejected coach but failed to capitalize on one chance after another as the War Elephants parked the bus. Thailand continued its mastery of the Philippines on the pitch extending their head-to-head record to 16-1, their lone loss to the Filipino booters coming in more than four decades ago – a 3-1 defeat in the 1971 Merdeka Games. Despite the loss, Weiss took it as a good result for the Azkals, whose last goal against the three-time Suzuki Cup champion prior to this match was way back in 2004 Tiger Cup. “Our couple of changes in the second half paid off,” said Weiss during the post-match interview. Facing a possible suspension with his ejection, Weiss remained upbeat on the Azkals’ chances against Vietnam, whom they defeated 2-0 two years ago that paved the way for "Azkal-mania". “It’s not the best situation. We’ll try to make the best out of it,” Weiss added. The Azkals are now facing a must-win situation in their next two matches starting off against Vietnam on Tuesday before wrapping up the group stages on Friday versus Myanmar to repeat their semis appearance in 2010. Thailand took the provisional lead in the group with three points while Vietnam and Myanmar are tied with one point each after their 1-1 draw in the curtain-raiser. The top two teams in the group will advance to the crossover, home-and-away semifinals.

Suzuki Cup result Philippines vs Thailand

Suzuki Cup result Philippines vs Thailand Philippines 1 - 2 Thailand Goal By Paul Mulders

Suzuki Cup opener: Azkals open quest vs Thais

By Olmin Leyba (The Philippine Star) | Updated November 24, 2012 - 12:00am Matches today (Rajamangala Stadium) 5:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. Manila time) – Vietnam vs Myanmar 8:20 p.m. (9:20 p.m. Manila time) – Thailand vs Philippines BANGKOK – The Azkals are back – and on the loose again – over the turf where they made a courageous stand two years ago that lit the fuse of football revival back home. It was the same AFF Suzuki Cup where a curious combine of Fil-foreign players and homegrown aces reached an improbable semifinal finish, in the process triggering a new wave of interest in the sport that gave birth to “Azkal-mania.” The Azkals take on powerhouse and host Thailand, no less, in the Suzuki Cup 2012 group stages before an expected hostile crowd at 8:20 tonight (9:20 p.m. in Manila) at the cavernous Rajamangala Stadium, the first of three tough tests in their mission to repeat their breakthrough semifinal showing in Southeast Asia’s prime tourney. “We’ve been thinking about this for several months already, we’ve been looking forward to really fielding a very strong team,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami. The Azkals finalized their 22-man roster for what’s considered the “Group of Death” in the company of Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar. Ed Sacapaño and Ref Cuaresma were named in the goalkeeping post, along with Fil-German Roland Muller, who will only be available by the time of the finals, should Phl reaches that far. Ray Jonsson, Rob Gier, Juani Guirado, Dennis Cagara, Carlie de Murga, Jason Sabio, and Jeff Christiaens fill up the backline posts while James Younghusband, Jerry Lucena, Paul Mulders, Chieffy Caligdong, Demit Omphroy, Jason de Jong, Angel Guirado, Patrick Reichelt, Marwin Angeles and Chris Greatwich take midfield. Phil Younghusband and Denis Wolf will carry the offensive load. “Since the start of year, we’ve been gearing for the Suzuki Cup and now we’re here, we’re excited, we can’t wait to play our first game against Thailand and see how we’ll fare against our neighbors who, I’m sure have prepared as well. I hope we will be formidable against them and pull off some surprises,” said Palami. Standing in their way in the all-important opening game are the Thais, winners in 1996, 2000, 2002, plus a 12th man numbering tens of thousand hostile in the 80,000-seater stadium. “This game will determine the mood and where we stand, but again, we’ll take it one game at a time, and one plan at a time for every opponent and we’ll see,” said Azkals coach Michael Weiss. The Thais are expected to be spearheaded by in-form Teerasil Dangda, who finished the last Thai league season as joint top-scorer with 24 goals, and fellow Muang Thong United star Datsakorn Thonglao. “They (Thailand) are going to be a strong team. They got two main guys, number 7 (Thonglao) and 10 (Teerasil). They (Thailand) are your typical kind of good Southeast Asian team,” said Gier, who produced a scouting report on the Thais. Phl have lost all six meetings against Thailand since 1996 prior to the game but Thailand’s German coach Winfried Schafer doesn’t care much about history. “It’s past, it’s not important to me. But I sure hope (to keep that streak),” he said. Schafer personally scouted the Azkals when they beat Singapore, 1-0, in Cebu last week.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Weiss downplays Azkals' improvement in FIFA rankings

YAHOO SPORT -
Don’t take the rankings too seriously. This, in a nutshell, was the stand of Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss in reaction to news that the Philippines had just achieved a highest-ever ranking of 143 in the latest FIFA work rankings. “I think we should be happy that we improved our ranking in the last two years,” said the German mentor, “but we shouldn’t be over-obsessed with rankings. A ranking reflects the current status, not necessarily the strength of the team in general. Some teams choose not to play matches and then they automatically drop in the rankings. “We played a lot of matches. We took advantage of that. We became stronger for sure, but look at Thailand, for example. They have six World Cup qualifiers under their legs, and they were just beaten very narrowly by Australia. They lost in the last minute, 2-1 only. I think that’s a very, very decent result. So with this experience and with the homefield advantage, we will have to be prepared.” Owing to their relative inactivity, the Thais plummeted 13 notches to 152, or nine places below the Philippines, which is now the second highest-ranked country in Southeast Asia behind only Vietnam (138). Thailand beat Malaysia, 2-0, in a friendly played Wednesday night in Bangkok, but prior to that had played only seven matches this year. The Azkals square off against the Thais on November 24 in their opening group match of AFF Suzuki Cup in Bangkok, a match that is sure to test just how worthy the Philippines is of its FIFA ranking. Three days later, Vietnam, still smarting from that 2-0 loss inflicted by the Azkals two years ago which launched Azkals-mania, will try to avenge that humiliating defeat fashioned out in front of a stunned hometown crowd of 80,000. Late qualifier Myanmar rounds up the Philippines’ group matches on November 30. The top two teams from the group will advance to the semifinals. “We will be well-advised to take it one match at a time,” Weiss said when asked about the team’s chances in the so-called Group of Death. “The first match will be crucial. It’s always good to start positively. It will be in front of probably a very excited crowd. That can work well for the home team but that can also weigh heavily on their shoulders. We’ll probably go a little bit more conservatively into the game and then see what they can offer, and then we’ll make adjustments in our game. “It will be a very difficult match, but the team is strong and has made significant progress in the last three, four months.” Weiss and the coaching staff have scouted the Thais, and make no mistake, this team is much better than their current ranking. “I’ve seen their matches against Saudi Arabia, home and away, and Palestine, and they’re very quick in transforming from defense to offense. They have a no. 7 and their no. 10 is a top striker in the Southeast Asian region. All of their players are very quick and speedy and they have good experience.” Thailand advanced to the third round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, whereas the Philippines was eliminated by Kuwait in the second round. The Thais, though, failed to make it to the fourth round. Of course, the Azkals would like nothing better than to reprise their magical 2010 run, where they came out of nowhere and advanced to the semifinals after that shocking win over Vietnam and an equally stunning last-minute draw with Singapore. But top striker Phil Younghusband, who scored the second goal against Vietnam, knows the road will be much tougher this time. “The element of surprise is no longer there,” he said. “In 2010 they didn’t know what to expect from us. But obviously now, with the success of the Azkals over the last couple of years, the other countries are well aware of what we can do and they’ll do their homework.” Nonetheless, Younghusband, a national team fixture since 2005, likes the Azkals’ chances. “I’m looking forward to playing the hosts in the first game. Certainly it’ll be a full stadium. I think with the players we have, we have every right to feel very confident. Of course, you need a little bit of luck in every competition. But if we work hard, with a little bit of luck I’m sure we’ll do well.” Team captain Chieffy Caligdong also voiced guarded optimism, even as he feels the Azkals still can’t be considered favorites. “Group of Death,” said the Air Force stalwart. “Nandiyan iyong Thailand, iyong Vietnam, Myanmar. We’re not underestimating the opponent. Lahat sila, siyempre gusto din ng panalo. Prepared naman iyong team. Very proud ako sa teammates ko. Iyong preparation naming mahaba. “Underdogs pa rin kami. Pero siyempre huwag nila kami maliitin. Baka magulat sila.” “We will be going in with good confidence and good results in the last two months going into the tournament,” said Weiss. “I see the group as equally strong. Even Myanmar cannot be underestimated. All four teams can make it to the semifinals. We need a little bit of luck.” Should the Azkals again make it to the semifinals, they can rest assured that this time around, they will hold their home match on Philippine soil and avoid a repeat of the 2010 fiasco where the team was forced to play both semifinal matches in Jakarta since there was no suitable venue in the country. “Syempre iba na ang 2010 Suzuki Cup sa 2012 Suzuki Cup,” Caligdong said. "Kung makapasok ulit kami sa semifinals, siguro iyong nangyari two years ago hindi na mauulit. The PFF will provide the home field para sa team. Hindi naman kami nag-aassume na makakapasok kami sa semifinals, pero may tiwala kaming lahat.” The Azkals have one final tune-up game on November 15 in Cebu against Singapore, which the coaching staff will use to decide the final 22 players who will comprise the team in the group stage matches. Weiss expressed hope that Europe-based regulars Neil Etheridge and Stephan Schrock can join them. “The team is in good condition right now,” Weiss said. “We have done our homework. We have another two weeks where we will work hard and then identify the final 22 members who will be representing the team in the first three matches. Hopefully our friends from Europe will be joining the team.”

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Azkals end 99-year wait for international crown

By Mark Giongco, Cedelf P. Tupas - INQUIRER.net, Philippine Daily Inquirer
The long wait for an international football title finally ended for the Philippines Saturday night amid a festive atmosphere at the historic Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila. The Philippine Azkals broke through early to defeat Chinese Taipei, 3-1, and clinch the Paulino Alcantara Peace Cup title at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, the country’s first international championship in 99 years. Fil-German Dennis Wolf opened things up for the Philippines in the 10th minute. OJ Porteria made it 3-nil after Chieffy Caligdong struck one in the 43rd minute. Chinese Taipei pulled back in the 52nd after a miscommunication. But that lone goal by Taiwan was the only one conceded by the Azkals, who dominated Macau, 5-0, last Thursday. The Philippines took home the crown by going undefeated with nine points. Wolf’s gang The 29-year-old Wolf finished with four goals and emerged as the tournament’s top scorer and Most Valuable Player, while Eduard Sacapano and Jeff Christiaens were named best goalkeeper and best defender, respectively. Matt Uy, who only arrived from the United States last week, excelled with his vision and composure and was adjudged best midfielder by the technical study group of the tournament. Chinese Taipei, which finished second in the tournament, had a chance to score again on a penalty but Sacapano, the best keeper, timed the attempt perfectly in the 93rd minute. No top stars Making the win impressive though was the fact that the team played minus some of its top stars. Europe-based players like first choice goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and midfield wizard Stephan Schrock had to fulfill commitments abroad. The Azkals were also without the Younghusband brothers James and Phil, who were dropped from the team due to commitment issues. Guam beats Macau Earlier, Guam salvaged third place in the four-nation tournament with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Macau. Still, the title triumph was a confidence boost as coach Michael Weiss tried to build a winning mentality as the squad heads to the crucial stretch of its preparations for the AFF Suzuki Cup in Thailand in November. Future stars emerge The three goal-scorers actually represent different eras of Philippine football. Caligdong has been with the national side even when the country struggled for support, while Wolf joined the squad at the height of its popularity. Porteria, at 18, has been hailed as one of the future stars of the squad. Not since the 1913 Far East Games has the Philippines won an international title. But Wolf put the Azkals on their way with a 10th minute strike after he pounced on a mad scramble inside the box caused by a Chieffy Caligdong corner kick. Caligdong turned goal-scorer in the 34th minute, collecting a clearance from the Chinese-Taipei defender before firing low past the keeper. The Azkals looked to have wrapped up the win when Porteria stole a lazy pass and finished calmly in the 43rd minute. But they had to absorb pressure from the Taiwanese in the second half. There was controversy midway when the Taiwanese were denied of a penalty claim after a tackle by Demitrius Omphroy. The non-call did not sit well with Taiwan team officials who refused to leave the bench despite getting dismissed by the referee. That led to a 10-minute stoppage of play, but the Azkals stood resolute and their heroic defensive effort was highlighted by Sacapano’s penalty save in injury time.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Azkals chase record semis vs Tajikistan

By Olmin Leyba - (The Philippine Star)

KATHMANDU – Either the Philippine Azkals book a storied place in the AFC Challenge Cup semifinals or, as in past national teams, be consigned to its dustbin.

The Azkals try to rewrite history as they face 2006 winners Tajikistan in a do-or-die elims match for the second semis berth in Group B at the Halchowk Stadium here.

The Azkals, the obvious underdogs in the Group B competitions that featured champions of the first three editions, stayed in the running for a historic Last 4 appearance by bundling out 2008 titlist India, 2-0, tying Tajikistan at second with three points (1-0-1). Phl XI earlier bowed to defending champion North Korea, 0-2.

“Our goal is still the same – reach the semis – and to do, that we have to beat Tajikistan,” Azkals team manager Dan Palami said on the eve of the crucial match set 3 p.m. at the Halchowk Stadium in this chilly mountain nation (5:15 p.m. in Manila).

The Azkals and the Persian Lions are disputing the second and last semis berth in Group B with the Chollima already in the Last 4 with six points (2-0-0). With the same card and goal difference, Phl and Tajikistan will have to settle the issue via a victory today, a penalty shootout set if they end up with a draw.

“It’s going be a do-or-die. Not the first time we’re in this position and I know the players can pull through with it. I know we have the talent to get to the semis and I just hope we are able to find the rhythm much earlier in the game so that we won’t be as threatened like we were last night,” Palami said, referring to the India game, where the Blue Tigers managed to threaten the defense with some good shots.

The Azkals are on a high after beating India, moving on the brink of a cherished semis slot.

“I hope the team can get confidence from this victory,” said coach Michael Weiss, adding they need to play smart against Tajiskistan. “The smart team in this matchup will succeed to next round.”

The Azkals are in the AFC Challenge Cup Final-8 for the first time ever after hurdling the qualifying playoffs and qualifying group eliminations last year. They look to rewrite history by advancing the semis of the meet, and possibly the championship itself.

“We’re confident,” said ace striker Phil Younghusband, who scored a brace in the win over India, a result the Azkals view as a confidence builder.

“It’s going to be a difficult and tough game. But we have our confidence on the team that we can get a good result and (take) another step in Phl football, a history maker. It’s a big, big deal so we’ll prepare the same we did for the other game,” he added.

Standing in their way is Tajikistan, a team ranked nine notches higher than 156th-ranked Phl. The Persian Lions’ Bosnian coach Kemal Alispahi, through an interpreter, expressed confidence they can overcome the “unsophisticated” Azkals.

“Both team have shown quite a good performance but I believe we’ll be able to beat the Philippines and achieve the result we want,” said Alispahi, only on his 20th day as coach of Tajikistan after leaving Syrian club Al-Ittihad Aleppo.

“I would say Phl team, they’ve not played sophisticated system much but the coach uses what he has actually,” he observed. “The problem which they face is mostly playing defense but in offense they have a couple of good players. Definitely, we could face a lot of problem because of offense but I hope we can manage it.”

Phl custodian Neil Etheridge, who had made a number of fantastic saves against both North Korea and India, expressed confidence on the Azkals’ defense.

“I think the whole back four played well. I was very impressed. I knew coach wants to put Juani (Guirado) in holding midfield and Rob (Gier) back in defense. Rob is a great addition, picking up and knocking, he keeps a great line. Him and (Jason) Sabio are great team because Rob can dictate and tell Sabio where to go. And Sabio’s done really well,” Etheridge said.

“I just wish to improve the midfield. At points, we got a lot better, we kept the ball a lot better. Still at times we looked for pass that wasn’t really on or a pass that’s no 100 percent (precise),” he added.

Palami said their chances look good.

“We just have to play our game but establish the rhythm much earlier on so that we’re able to convert our chances and can create opportunities for the team. Our defense has been holding very well against other teams so far, even against North Korea. It will be tested again tomorrow (today) but hopefully our offensive threat can be converted into actual goals,” he said.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

AFC Challenge Cup 2012 Standing (Group A & Group B)

From: http://www.goal.com/en-india/results-standings/287/afc-challenge-cup-2012/group


Azkals blank Indians, boost semis bid

By Olmin Leyba - (The Philippine Star)

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 to boost their semis bid last night 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, 1-0-1) 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 tomorrow 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.

Weiss said a key adjustment in putting veteran defender Rob Gier in the back and Juani Guirado and Paul Mulders at holding midfield helped the Azkals’ cause.

Notes: Azkals coach Michael Weiss was presented with a mini-cake by the team in celebration of his 52nd birthday yesterday. Asked about his birthday wish, Weiss said: “You know what I want - to win the AFC Challenge Cup.”. If only that’s something the Azkals can get from a gift shop... Left in Manila as he’s still yet to fully recover from ACL, Azkals skipper Aly Borromeo is ding rah-rah for his teammates via social media. “Game day! Leave everything on that pitch today and take it to em boys!” he twitted on the day the Azkals faced a must-win situation against India. Borromeo is working as special analyst for Studio 23’s coverage of Phl XI’s campaign. “Sucks being injured and not playing but commentating with @bhobg333 (Bob Guerrero) is the closest I can get to being with the boys!”...To this day, Lydia de Vega still enjoys legend status in India. An Indian journalist asked about de Vega’s present whereabouts, recalling her exploits in the tracks and rivalry with Indian sprint queen PT Usha in the 1980s.

Phil Younghusband scores two, Etheridge shines as Azkals shut out India Phil Younghusband scores two, Etheridge shines as Azkals shut out India

ROY MOORE - AMD/HS, GMA News

In Katmandu, Nepal, the Azkals overcame the distraction of a raging sexual harassment controversy involving the daughter of a former Philippine president to boot India out of the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup and advance to a do-or-die match against favored Tajikistan.

Phil Younghusband provided a poweful demonstration of the Azkals' "brother act."

The younger of the ballyhooed English-Filipino sibling duo scored on both sides of halftime in the Azkals' 2-0 win over India, Sunday at the Dasarath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu. Both goals were assisted by his Kuya James.

Now the Philippines and Tajikistan will compete for the second spot in the group to reach the semifinals. After beating India 2-0, Tajikistan lost to North Korea 2-0, the same scoreline as the Azkals. North Korea has won the group, whatever happens between them and India, while Tajikistan and the Philippines have exactly the same results against India and North Korea, crafting a do-or-die moment between the two countries on March 13.

A win for either nation would put them through while a draw would see both countries finish with four points. As they would end with the same goal difference too, the game would be decided by penalties and whoever advances will likely face the winner of Group A’s clash between Palestine and the Maldives.

The AFC Challenge Cup is known as a tournament for lower-ranked Asian national teams. Thus, traditional powerhouses Japan, South Korea, and China are not playing. The Philippines is ranked 156 by FIFA, India is at 158, and Tajikistan at 145. Defending champion North Korea is currently 111, while it's arch-enemy South Korea is at 30.

Phil's goals for the Philippines

The Philippines took control of the India match in the 10th minute with a Jason Sabio long throw being flicked on by James Younghusband to his brother Phil, who found the back of the net.

The trick was almost repeated soon after when Sabio threw in another long ball, and it fell kindly for Phil Younghusband but he blasted it this time. Usually playing on the wings for the Philippines, Chieffy Caligdong returned to the starting lineup in a more central role for the Azkals, as he fashioned the next chance.

Playing a great through ball for Phil Younghusband, the Loyola Meralco Sparks forward in the UFL raced onto the ball. Pitted against Karanjit Singh in the India goal, Younghusband shot low, the Indian goalkeeper pulled off a great save with his legs, knocking the ball wide. However, the referee didn’t see it and gave a goal kick instead of a corner.

India, meanwhile, looked a bit sluggish and couldn’t find their rhythm. Their best chance of the half came when Joaquim Abranches was found with a nice pass and he turned and shot at goal from the edge of the area. It was too close to Etheridge in goal though, and the Fulham keeper held the shot, mopping up all of India’s other chances afterwards.

In the second half, India started brighter and began passing the ball well, looking for quick attacks. Both sides though seemed to threaten most from the long throws, with Sabio and his Indian counterpart taking on a big role.

India’s best chance then fell just after the hour mark when a free-kick close to the Azkals’ area on the left wing was curled in. Joaquim Abranches glanced a header at goal but it just went wide.

Shortly afterwards the Azkals threatened with Misagh Bahadoran, who came on to protect the still-recovering Chieffy Caligdong, crossing for James Younghusband who controlled the ball but fired over from just inside the area. Minutes later, Paul Mulders went on a long surging run and ended up in India’s box from an acute angle, but he could only blast over as well.

The Azkals made the pressure count moments later when the Younghusband brothers combined again, playing a one-two which sent Phil Younghusband in on goal. Phil faced an acute angle but slotted into the top corner to double the Azkals’ lead in the 72nd minute, also becoming the joint-top tournament scorer at the same time with his brace.

Angel Guirado could have sent the Philippines further ahead when he was found on the edge of the area but his low shot was parried by the Indian goalkeeper before his next shot was deflected for a corner.

India almost pulled a goal back in the 87th minute when captain Sunil Chettri was fed a cut back from the right wing after the Indian winger beat his man. Chettri could only fire with the goal gaping though and the move summed up India’s campaign in the Challenge Cup as they limped out of the competition. The Azkals saw the game out to record their first ever win the final stage of the Challenge Cup to set up an all or nothing clash with Tajikistan.

It will be a tall order for the Philippines to draw or beat Tajikistan, a side that recently drew with North Korea 1-1 in a World Cup qualifier. The Central Asian side is eleven places above the Philippines (156) in the latest FIFA rankings at 145 in the world.

Full-strength Azkals still a dream

By Cedelf P. Tupas - Philippine Daily Inquirer

KATHMANDU—The Philippines still longs for the day when it will have all the best available talent in the team for a major tournament.
It didn’t happen here at the AFC Challenge Cup in this laidback city in the Himalayas. And team manager Dan Palami fears it may not happen soon.
The Azkals were scheduled to play against a tough India side last night at the Dashrath Stadium, hoping to keep their semifinal hopes alive after dropping their first assignment against North Korea, 0-2.
“Up to now, that has always been the biggest challenge,” said Palami of getting the likes of standouts Stephan Schrock, Jerry Lucena and Dennis Cagara released from their respective foreign clubs to don the country’s colors.
“The players are actually willing to play, but the clubs will not let them,” said Palami, who remains hopeful that the Europe-based standouts will suit up for the next major tournament, the Suzuki Cup, late this year.
Schrock, who scored a memorable goal in the 1-3 home loss against Kuwait in the World Cup Qualifier, is one of the stars of Greuther Furth in the German second division.
The team is in a good position to vie for promotion to the prestigious Bundesliga and also made the semifinals of the German Cup.
Lucena is attached with Danish club Aarhus, which told the Philippine Football Federation in early February that they will not release the midfielder for the Challenge Cup.
Cagara recently signed with FSV Frankfurt, making his debut for the German second division club last Saturday.
Striker Denis Wolf plays in the fourth division in Germany and, although he could have been available for this tournament, he wasn’t able to participate because he didn’t get his Philippine passport before the deadline.
Clubs are only inclined to release players for Fifa international dates, and the Challenge Cup does not fall in the calendar.
Neil Etheridge of Fulham and Paul Mulders of ADO Den Haag in the Dutch first division were released for the tournament, boosting the Azkals’ artillery.
“The significance (of our tournaments) is sometimes lost in the clubs,” said Palami. “But we are taking steps so that they will be able to join tournaments that are actually in the Fifa calendar.
“We just have to resort to getting on the good side of the clubs to release players.”
Because of this problem, Palami said it is important to form a strong local-based core.
“We always have to work on the assumption that they are not coming (for major tournaments),” he said.
Another option is to convince Filipino players based abroad to play in the United Football League.
Palami signed up Rob Gier and the Spanish trio of Juan Luis Guirado, Angel Guirado and Carli de Murga to his UFL club, Global FC, so it can spend more time training with the national team.
“It’s difficult to absorb the costs,” Palami said. “I talked to (UFL chair) Santi (Araneta) about distributing the (European-based) players to different clubs so it would be easier for us to gather the core together.”

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Philippine Azkals improve ranking to 156

ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Azkals improved their rank a notch higher in the latest FIFA world rankings.

The Azkals are now ranked No. 156, which is an improvement from their No. 157 rank last January.

They accumulated a total of 139 points and are ranked ahead of No. 157 Bangladesh (138 points).

Spain remained on the No. 1 spot with a total of 1566 points.

The Azkals’ recent 3-1 victory over Qatar professional football club Al Ahli may have hiked the Nationals’ standing in the FIFA list.

The Filipino squad are currently training in Dubai as part of their preparations for the 2012 Challenge Cup this coming March.

They are set to face Australia’s Qantas Under-23 team in a friendly match on Thursday.

Azkals: Challenge Cup semis may surpass Suzuki Cup feat

Roy Moore - GMA News

The 2012 Challenge Cup is possibly the hardest test for the Azkals since their upset of Vietnam in the Suzuki Cup last December 2010.

The Philippines are grouped with the three past winners of the competition: India, Tajikistan and North Korea. They are regarded as the three best teams in the entire competition, including the qualification stages. Here we take a look at how realistic expectations should be ahead of next month’s competition.

North Korea (107) and Tajikistan (140) are ranked above the Philippines (157) in FIFA rankings, while India (158) has comfortably won their last four games and may well challenge for second in the group based on form.

ELO ratings are often more realistic and given that North Korea, Tajikistan and India are ranked at 87, 142 and 146 respectively, the Philippines’ ranking at 178 in the world shows the gulf in development in the regions.

The ELO standings also offer an interesting comparison of the Philippines’ future opponents in the Challenge Cup and their past opponents in the Suzuki Cup: North Korea are 51 places above Vietnam, Singapore are one notch above Tajikistan while India are 37 places above Myanmar.

Similar circumstances

To qualify from the group stage would be a huge achievement. The Philippines are once again clear underdogs, and reaching the semifinals would equal, maybe even surpass, reaching the semifinals of the Suzuki Cup, especially as qualification was much harder.

While North Korea are clear favorites, Tajikistan also beat Myanmar in their last encounter and India is developing quickly and are coming into the tournament on the backend of a run of good form.

The Philippines are facing a big challenge and the rest of the world expects the country to finish bottom of the group. None of the teams are expecting to pick up anything against North Korea and so who qualifies for second will likely be determined by the games between Tajikistan, India and the Philippines.

Asian football landscape

The Asian Football Confederation divides nations in Asia into three classes: developed, developing and emerging. Developed nations are the best football countries in Asia. Developing nations are close behind, and then emerging nations are more like the minnows of Asian football.

It is no surprise that the top teams in Asia dominate the Asian Cup, the premier tournament in Asian football. The Philippines, for example, classified as an emerging nation, were drawn in a group Tuesday with South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Taiwan for the Under-22 version of the Asian Cup.

The Challenge Cup was therefore created to give more experience to the emerging sides, with the Philippines, Palestine and Nepal as the emerging nations that managed to qualify for the final stage of eight teams.

But qualifying alone for the Challenge Cup is already a very successful achievement for the Philippines, who are also the only team in Asia to have gone through the first and second round of qualification to reach the finals. Five non-emerging nations currently compete in the tournament and the only one not to qualify for the final stage was Myanmar, who the Philippines drew 1-1 with in their group and have recently replaced as the sixth seed in South East Asia for Suzuki Cup tournaments.

Targets

With captain Aly Borromeo missing the competition due to a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in his knee, Chieffy Caligdong unsure of fully recovering in time from what is suspected to be a strained lateral ligament and many Filipinos in foreign leagues unavailable due to club commitments, the Azkals squad is slightly depleted.

Manager Dan Palami and Coach Weiss have also noted the lack of preparation time but are still optimistic about the tournament.

Palami has said “Our target is the semifinals and our dream is to become champions.” He added, however, “realistically, in the position that we are right now, we can’t dream too much.”

While reaching the semifinals may be the target, not reaching the semis wouldn’t necessarily be a failure. A failure would be losing heavily in all three matches and to be clearly outclassed. Realistically, the best the Azkals can do now then is to head on to their training camp, prepare as best as possible and fight tooth and nail in Nepal. With a bit of luck, they may be able to cause an upset in Asia.

The Azkals lost their first game of the tour in the Middle East 3-0 against the Uzbekistan Under-23s in Dubai but bounced back in Qatar Monday night, beating club team Al Ahli 3-1.

The Philippines will fly back to Dubai to face the Australia Under-23s on February 16 in preparation for the Challenge Cup starting March 8th.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Things looking up for Azkals - Weiss

By Olmin Leyba, The Philippine Star


MANILA, Philippines - Unlike the last time when his wards took a beating from a high-profile visiting club, coach Michael Weiss was in a much better mood after Azkals United's 2-4 loss on penalties to Korean third division club Icheon Citizen FC.

The German mentor sees positive things from the game, particularly how the young turks and new faces played and ably filled in for the veteran Azkals who were unavailable for Saturday night’s KIA Rio Cup charity match at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

One was Fil-Italian Marwin Angeles, a member of the Under-23 SEA Games team who came in as sub and delivered the equalizer for an Azkals United side that was firing blanks most of the way.

Angeles found the back of the net off a corner by Misagh Bahadoran, himself an Azkal senior who usually lurks under the shadows of the more illustrious booters like the Younghusband brothers, at the 89th minute, forcing the 1-1 tie after regulation and the ensuing shootout that eventually went Icheon's way.

"I'm happy that Marwin took the opportunity to show what he's already, in some parts shown in Indonesia during our unsuccessful (Southeast Asian Games) campaign but I think the good proof that we've done good work even if we didn't get the results (there) is that we got a pool of young, interesting players," said Weiss.

Weiss used a practically different starting 11 that included U-23 mainstay Jerry Barbaso who hooked up with seasoned Fil-British Rob Gier in defense, and seldom-used Nestorio Margarse and Roel Gener.

He also tried a fresh recruit in Fil-German Denis Wolf who made a good impression playing up front with regulars Ian Araneta, Angel Guirado and Chieffy Caligdong along with second stringer Bahadoran.

"The team showed good spirits; no negative gestures, no negative movements in the face, stuff like that which happens sometimes in the seniors team. We should show this tape to some of the senior players and show them how a team can work, how fantastic a team can help each other and show very nice fighting attitude and never-say-die spirit," he said.

The last time Weiss called the shots for the Azkals, the hosts got sideswiped by David Beckham and LA Galaxy, 1-6, last December, their fall hastened by what he felt was lack of full concentration from his starstruck crew.

It seems Weiss liked this unit so much he considers bringing some of them along to Dubai for the Azkals' training camp next month and possibly the AFC Challenge Cup itself in Nepal in March.

"Honestly, I was a little bit worried ahead of the game because our preparations were close to zero. But I'm extremely proud of this team, who performed (up to par) against a good opponent," he said.

"Most of these players will get a reward, we'll be taking them to the camp in Dubai and we'll give them another exposure. It might be a case of only a few of the (Europe-based) professionals being able to come to the Challenge Cup so we'll likely rely on our homegrown players and support them," he added.

The Azkals have started training for the Challenge Cup but club commitments here have limited the nationals' time for sessions under Weiss.

"With this preparation, I'm a little bit worried with the results in the Challenge Cup, it will be very difficult. We as a team, we showed today that we’re always trying our best."