Cedelf P. Tupas (PDI)
First Posted 01:46:31 17/03/2011
ULAN BATOR---The return of key players will boostthe Philippine football team’s hopes of nailing one of the two slots at stake in the group qualifying tournament of the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup in Rangoon, Myanmar starting March 21.
Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge has confirmed his return to the Azkals after his loan move to Charlton from Fulham fell through, while defender Rob Gier and midfielder Jason de Jong could be available again after missing the second leg of the prequalifying showdown with Mongolia last Tuesday.
The Azkals will also have additional firepower up front with tall Filipino-Spanish striker Angel Guirado Aldeguer expected to make his debut for the squad.
But the strongest Azkals’ lineup would have to wait as highly touted Filipino-Danish players Jerry Lucena and Dennis Cagara as well as Filipino-German fullback Stephan Schrock will miss the group stage.
Star striker Phil Younghusband is also doubtful for the group stage in Myanmar, after sustaining a hamstring injury last Tuesday.
Thanks to goals from Phil Younghusband and Chieffy Caligdong in the first leg and an early conversion from James Younghusband in the return leg, the Azkals moved on after winning 3-2 on aggregate despite 1-2 defeat in freezing conditions in the second leg here Tuesday.
The Azkals will have little rest, though, as their first game has been set on Monday against Myanmar, against Palestine on March 23, while the duel with Bangladesh is set March 25.
The Azkals need to win at least two of their three games in Myanmar to make it to the main tournament next year.
“It’s time to regroup for Myanmar,” said team manager Dan Palami, the man credited for the Azkals’ turnaround.
“The group stage in Myanmar will be another big test for our team. We must prove that we are ready to move up to the next level in Asian football.”
"I think it’s a very important tournament for us because it gives us an opportunity to make history," said Azkals skipper Aly Borromeo. "We have good preparations from camp in Japan and the game against Mongolia helped us. It’s going to be something new for us because we haven't faced some of the teams."
Team officials could not give an exact prognosis on the extent of Younghusband’s injury. The Azkals top scorer is set to undergo an MRI in Manila today.
Lucena picked up an injury during training for his club, Aarhus, recently while Cagara has not confirmed his appearance in the tournament.
One of the more accomplished Filipino players abroad, Schrock who plays club football for Greuther Furth in the German second division, is still recovering from a knee injury.
Lucena and Cagara, who trained with the squad for two days in Bacolod shortly before the first leg against Mongolia, already hold Philippine passports and have been listed in the lineup for the group stages.
Etheridge had earlier ruled himself out of the group stage qualifying after Fulham sent him to Charlton in League One for a month-long loan.
But Charlton did not field Etheridge in two matches, prompting Fulham to recall the 6-foot-3 keeper, who has made 19 appearances for the country since 2008. Fulham has allowed Etheridge’s release for international duty.
Eduard Sacapano filled in for Etheridge in the second leg against Mongolia and coach Hans Michael Weiss was impressed by the Bago City-born keeper’s performance.
“We cannot blame Eduard in any other way because the first goal was offside and the second was a penalty,” said Weiss of Sacapano, who saved a penalty kick but was unable to control the rebound, leading to the second goal.
“He deserved a big credit. He just rose to the occasion. He was very composed and cool. As far as we know, we have a very good second goalkeeper.”
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