Match Defeat Tempers Joy of Qualification

(from PDI)

ULAN BATOR—The disappointment was palpable as the players gathered at the hotel lobby, the joy of qualification trumped by the agony of losing the match and failing to live up to expectations.

“I’m not happy,” said striker Phil Younghusband, who immediately went to social networking site twitter to apologize to fans after the Azkals absorbed a 1-2 defeat to Mongolia at the MFF football field here.

Younghusband, the country’s leading international scorer the past few years with 13 goals, and several players looked crestfallen despite the Philippines making it to the next round of the tournament in Myanmar on March 21 to 26.

“I’m disappointed, we were not good enough. We should be beating teams like Mongolia,” added Younghusband, who limped off in the 65th minute because of a hamstring problem that has put a cloud of doubt on his appearance in the group stage.

The Azkals face Myanmar on March 21, before playing Bangladesh two days later. They wrap up their campaign on March 25 against Palestine. Only the top two teams from the group will advance to the elite tournament next year.

Defender Jason Sabio, who gave up the penalty in the 35th minute, said the “trials and tribulations and the conditions in the leadup to the match” affected their performance.

“Winning the first leg, 2-0, we knew we had a safeguard, but we still wanted to make the Philippines proud,” he said. “This loss will make us fight stronger in Myanmar. It’s not how hard you fall but how high you bounce back.”