Galaxy wins over Azkals, 6-1

By JONAS TERRADO - Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — Two of the most iconic figures in global sports last night converged in a place where the Beatles once tore the house down.

David Beckham displayed the skills that made him a football icon while boxing champion Manny Pacquiao delighted the audience by just showing up, highlighting the LA Galaxy's 6-1 mastery of the Philippine Azkals at the jampacked Rizal Memorial Stadium.

In front of an approximate crowd of 12,000, Beckham made a lasting impression with his superb passing skills while scoring an effortless opening goal in the 20th minute.

After playing 75 minutes, Beckham came out in place of Jovan Kirovski then approached Pacquiao to give his game jersey. A smiling Pacquiao showed Beckham's gift like it was a world title belt.

"I couldn't wait to get off the field and talk to him," said Beckham, who briefly chatted with Pacquiao after the final whistle. "I'm a huge fan of him and he's a good person."

Beckham noticed Pacquiao arriving amidst cheers from the crowd in the 44th minute. At halftime, the England captain smiled at the Sarangani congressman then gave a thumbs up sign.

It was an expected win for the 2011 MLS champions, but the Azkals made it interesting in the first half when Phil Younghusband cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 40th minute off a splendid goal from the right side of the penalty box and over keeper Josh Saunders.

From there, it was pure dominance by the Galaxy.

Not minding flashbulbs and giggling fans, Beckham's corner kick set up Robbie Keane's goal in the 47th minute for a 3-1 advantage. Two more goals by Adam Cristman and another from substitute Gregg Berhalter later sealed LA's second win in the Asia Pacific Tour.

But the score hardly mattered at all.

Seeing Beckham and Landon Donovan, who had two passes that set up goals by Mike Magee and Cristman's first goal, and the rest of the Galaxy's superior skills coupled with Younghusband's goal was well enough for fans to have their money's worth.

Despite the expensive ticket prices, the crowd exceeded what organizers projected. Afterwards, the match further enhanced the legacy of a stadium that weathered the wrath of World War II.

"We would love to come back," said Donovan, who made his promise by exchanging uniforms with Azkals' injured captain Aly Borromeo.

Except for a worker who was doing a welding job at a constructed building near the stadium, all were glued for this so-called Dream Cup.

There were long lines outside the venue, Galaxy and Azkals jerseys were selling like hotcakes and a scalper even offered a P1,000 ticket for the bleacher seat that is legally pegged at P2,000.

Other prominent figures from various sectors were in attendance, from Manila mayor Alfredo Lim to actress Dawn Zulueta to Pacquiao's wife Jinkee, who arrived late with his three sons.

When she got into her seat, Beckham scored a long strike from the left side of the box. Goalkeeper Eduard Sacapano of the Philippine Army attempted to save it but his efforts went in vain as the ball hit the right side of the net.

Beckham's goal silenced a festive crowd, perhaps awed with how the English captain and former Manchester United and Real Madrid star did the trick.

"I haven't done that in years," Beckham described.

Magee made it 2-0 in the 38th minute off a counter attack that was aided by a short pass by Donovan. Two minutes later, Younghusband put the Azkals on the board.

"I'm happy that I scored a goal on the same game where David Beckham also scored a goal," said Younghusband, who personally received an autographed jersey from his idol during the post-match press conference.

Minutes after Keane's goal, a short shot that mesmerized Sacapano, the so-called "Blue-Haired Guy" named Ebong Joson announced that there was a missing kid named Vincent Ferrer.

After the announcement, Ferrer was found, the crowd was delighted but Cristman made it 4-1 in the 62nd minute off a Donovan pass.

Cristman added a second goal, 13 minutes later before Berhalter settled the final count in the 86th minute.

Full cast of Azkals topbill last match for 2011

By MAV C. GONZALES, GMA News

It’s 30 minutes before the Azkals-Nepal friendly kickoff but unlike the previous matches, the Rizal Memorial Stadium was not teeming with fans clad in blue. You could tell that the ones present belonged to one of these three groups of people: family and friends, football diehards, or fangirls and fangays.

It’s 30 minutes before the Azkals-Nepal friendly kickoff but unlike the previous matches, the Rizal Memorial Stadium was not teeming with fans clad in blue. You could tell that the ones present belonged to one of these three groups of people: family and friends, football diehards, or fangirls and fangays.


Golden Boot winner Chieffy Caligdong may not have scored during the match, but he still remains the crowd favorite.
This was the first time in 14 years that the Philippines would be hosting an international friendly – which follows to say that we are now getting reestablished in the world football arena. The Fil-foreign players in the squad traveled halfway around the globe just to participate in this match.

Although composed of younger players, Nepal is ranked 135th in the world. The Philippines trails behind at 166. This was a battle not just for FIFA ranking, but for pride as well. Nobody likes to lose, especially in his home field. In the case of Nepal, they wouldn’t like to lose to a lower ranked team.

But with the lineup and home crowd advantage, the Azkals whipped the Nepalese, 4-0, on Tuesday night.

Full force

Thanks to international breaks, members of the Azkals who play in different leagues abroad were able to come home for this friendly. Half-Europeans Neil Etheridge, Rob Gier, Ray Jonsson, Jason De Jong, Jerry Lucena, Dennis Cagara and Paul Mulders were all present.

And then you have crowd favorite Chieffy Caligdong who has his own cheer from the Kaholeros. Fellow Ilonggo Ian Araneta also got to start again after so many matches. Skipper Aly Borromeo and Younghusband brothers were also there to complete the first eleven.

New talents also emerged as 22-year-old Matthew Hartmann made his first international goal at the 89th mark.

However, a couple of regulars did not suit up in Tuesday’s match. Fil-Spanish striker Angel Guirado, although currently based in Manila, did not see action due to an injured ankle. Anton Del Rosario also sat out because of an MCL injury three weeks ago.

While talent is unquestionable in this pool – you have veteran Gier coming off the bench – chemistry has always been the bigger concern. With more games together, the team is now playing with more fluidity. In fact, the no-look passes and crossovers are finally happening now.

Pinoy Double Dutch

Fil-Dutch Paul Mulders and Jason De Jong were the pair to beat in the midfield.

Famous, or infamous, as the Azkals’ bad boy, De Jong is there for his toughness. His footwork and timely tackles intimidated the younger Nepal squad. It’s probably partly due to his tattoo-covered arms too.

Mulders, on the other hand, returned to the Azkals after a leg injury. The crowd at the grandstand could not help but cheer and clap in awe as he brushed off three Nepalese players on his own. He wasn’t in the UEFA Europa League for nothing.

Most hardworking player of the night

This award is a tossup between James Younghusband and Dennis Cagara. Both guys were running from baseline to baseline with the older Younghusband even scoring a goal in the 29th minute. Although not a super quick winger, he makes up for it with his hard work.

Cagara also helped a lot in setting up the plays. His bicycle kick in an attempt to save the ball would’ve been even more impressive if it hadn’t gone out of bounds. All the same, he wowed the Filipino crowd that does not usually see fancy football footwork.

Defense, defense, defense

This may not be basketball but the defenders of the Philippines deserve credit for holding up a sturdy backline.

Someone from the crowd went as far as to joke that goalkeeper Neil Etheridge must have been bored during the match because Nepal had but one decent attempt at the goal.

“Everybody remembers your last game"

This may not be a tournament or a World Cup qualifier, but Coach Michael Weiss believes that the win would still dispel doubters.

“Everybody remembers your last game so it’s good that we won this last one," said Phil Younghusband who scored two of the team’s goals.

The senior Azkals would see action again in March 2012 when they compete in the AFC Challenge Cup. Training would resume in January.

Given the three-month break, Weiss is expecting players to maintain high-level training in their respective clubs. He adds that the United Football League would provide the Azkals an avenue to continue training and playing with the best talents in the country.

Even with the 4-0 win, Weiss says that there are indeed still points for improvement.

“It’s good that we are getting to know each other better. But we still need better organization in set plays," he says.

The younger Younghusband agrees with him, saying, “We can only get better."

PHL Azkals show class in 4-0 blanking of Nepal

ROY MOORE - GMA NEWS

The Philippines came out to silence any doubters at the Rizal Memorial Stadium and with a brace
from Phil Younghusband, a goal from his brother James and a first international goal for fellow Filipino-British Matthew Hartmann the Azkals went on dominate Nepal 4-0. The Younghusband brothers particularly were the driving force behind the team as they beat a Nepal side who have been rather erratic in their performances this year.

Phil Younghusband opened the scoring when he was played through on the 17th minute to slot past Kiran Kumar Limbu in the Nepalese goal. At the half-hour mark his brother James got in on the action in the 30th by shooting from just outside the area into the top corner to double the Azkals' lead at halftime.

Phil Younghusband, receiving a pass from a Dennis Cagara corner, doubled his tally in the second half before Matthew Hartmann capped off an outstanding display with his first international goal.

First half

Despite facing a team ranked 31 places above them in Nepal (135), the Philippines (166) pressured the Nepalese keeper, who spilled crosses twice, early on.

Chieffy Caligdong uncharacteristically missed an easy scoring opportunity firing over with the goalkeeper sprawled on the ground. That didn't matter too much though as Phil Younghusband put the Philippines in front when he was set through on goal. At first it seemed he had taken the ball too wide but the goalkeeper kept moving and was very poorly positioned allowing the new Loyola Meralco Sparks forward to slot past the keeper's outstretched foot.

James Younghusband then added a second in the 28th minute as he picked up the ball on the edge of the area, shimmied past his defender and fired into the top corner.

Ian Araneta had a chance to make it 3-0 as Caligdong's low cross evaded the Nepalese defense but the Air Force striker couldn't quite get on the end of it with his slide.

Second half

Coach Michael Weiss, seeing that the Philippines dominated the first half, decided to bring in Nate Burkey to replace Araneta. But it was Phil Younghusband who again scored the next goal 10 minutes into the half.

Cagara fired in from a corner, which the striker controlled before putting the ball past the diving Limbu in the 55th minute.

Three goals up the Azkals didn't stop pressing the higher-ranked side and collectively began showing the quality we have seen glimpses of in previous games.

Nepal only threatened once in the second half, forcing Neil Etheridge into a tipped save in the 61st minute and Phil Younghusband almost had a hat-trick when he burst through on the right wing seven minutes later but his shot attempt was wide.

Jerry Lucena was then stretchered off shortly after and replaced by Hartmann, Chieffy Caligdong was rested giving Misagh Bahadoran a chance to show his skill before Jason De Jong came in for Lexton Moy.

Immediately Bahadoran made an impact, breaking on the left and cutting inside to shoot into the far corner, forcing Limbu in goal into a fine acrobatic fingertip save, though it was Hartmann who scored the fourth when Cagara burst through down the left wing, passed inside to Phil Younghusband who teed it up for the substitute to fire with pin-point precision into the top corner to score his first goal for the Philippines.

The dominating victory caps a grueling recent schedule for the Azkals, who bounced back from their 2-0 loss to Singapore in another friendly match.

After the game, Nepal's English coach Graham Roberts refused to make any excuses. "I've never been ashamed of my team before but I was ashamed at the first half."

Roberts said his team was "absolutely abysmal" as Nepal have not played competitively for three months.

He praised the Azkals' performance and even singled out Phil Younghusband as the difference, noting that his defenders are very good players but the Loyola Agila forward simply "tore them apart."

Phil Younghusband dedicated his performance to his mother, who died last month. Humble in the press conference, he commended his teammates who supplied him with the passes that allowed him to score twice and lead the Philippines to a one-sided victory.

Azkals-Nepal friendly match set

By FRANCIS SANTIAGO - Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — With Filipino-European players coming over, a complete Philippine football team will play a higher-ranked Nepal side in a friendly night match next month at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila.

Philippine Football Federation chief Mariano “Nonong” Araneta Jr. said Nepal (136th in the world) has agreed to meet the Azkals (162nd) on Oct. 11 on the Filipinos’ turf as part of the South Asian nation’s preparation for the South

Asian Football Federation championship that begins in December.

“They have agreed to play here as they also plan to tour the ASEAN region for their preparation,” Araneta said of the Nepal team, which is expected to fly in the country on Oct. 9.

Araneta said the match is set at 7 p.m.

After the Philippines, Nepal will play the Cambodia Under-23 side on Oct. 28, according to report posted on www.goalnepal.com.

Before playing Nepal, the Azkals will collide with Singapore (129th) on Oct. 7 in another friendly match on the Lions’ turf, giving the Filipinos opportunity to gauge their level of competitiveness as they also prepare for the AFF-Suzuki Cup and AFC-

Challenge Cup next year, according to Araneta.

“We’re excited because we’re going to have a full line up during these times,” Araneta said referring to the Oct. 6-11 dates which was reserved by the International Football Federation (Fifa) for international friendly games.

During this period, professional clubs around the world allow their players to play for their national teams, allowing the likes of Europe-based Neil Etheridge, Stephan Schrock, Paul Mulders, Jerry Lucena and Dennis Cagara to join the Azkals.

The PFF had earlier invited Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Oman and Qatar to play the Azkals, but all declined.