Brave Reds are next for Azkals

source: By FRANCIS SANTIAGO/ mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ ambitious bid of advancing to the prestigious 2014 World Cup got a massive boost Wednesday when the Philippine Azkals were drawn against a lower-ranked Sri Lankan side in the first round of the qualifying tournament that starts this June.

Philippine Football Federation chief Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said the result of the draw which took place in Kuala Lumpur was “a favourable one for the Azkals” if the standings in the FIFA world rankings of both teams will be the basis. 

Nicknamed the Brave Reds, the Sri Lankan squad is ranked 173rd while the Philippines, 151st. The format for the Round 1 qualifier will be a home and away series with Sri Lanka hosting the first leg on June 29 and Philippines on July 3.

If the Azkals manage to ease past the Brave Reds, they will have a tougher time in Round 2 as they will face Kuwait, which is ranked 101st.

The Azkals, who recently secured a place in the main draw of the 2012 Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup, have never player the Brave Reds before, but Araneta remains optimistic of the team’s chances.

The Philippine squad gets the chance to learn more about the football brand of play of its South Asian opponent when Sri Lanka hosts its AFC Challenge Cup group stage qualifying matches next week.

Sri Lanka is in Group D and will play either Afghanistan or Bhutan, defending champion North Korea and Nepal at Dashrath and Halchowk Stadiums in Kathmandu beginning April 7. The Azkals and Palestine advanced to the eight-team finals after topping Group A last week.

“We might send someone to get a copy of their matches,” said Araneta of Sri Lanka which finished runner up in the 2006 edition of the Challenge Cup.

Team manager Dan Palami earlier said he would be already satisfied seeing the boys reaching the third round of the World Cup qualifier.

But with Kuwait standing in their way in the second round, the Azkals may have a hard time achieving their goal.

“So without looking past Sri Lanka, we’re also thinking ahead for the Kuwait match up,” Araneta said. 

To prepare for Sri Lanka, as well as Kuwait, Araneta said the Azkals will camp out in a Middle East country in the first week of June so the players can get acclimatized with the hot weather.

The home game against Sri Lanka could be staged at either the Rizal Memorial football stadium in Manila or the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

The Azkals are led by the Younghusband brothers – James and Phil – and new recruits from Europe.

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Azkals win, advance to AFC Challenge Cup 'Elite 8'

source: By FRANCIS SANTIAGO / mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines – Needing a performance worthy of their reputation, the Philippine Azkals stood up and delivered.

The national football team, its back against the wall, demolished Bangladesh, 3-0, as it etched another historic mark in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup group stage qualifying last night at the Aung San Stadium in Rangoon, Myanmar.

Before a tiny group of flag-waving Filipino fans, Ian Araneta ended his scoring slump with an ice breaker before Filipino-Spanish standout Angel Aldeguer Guirado struck twice in the second half as the Filipinos advanced to the finals of the prestigious tournament for the first time since its establishment in 2006.

“On to the final eight. What a sweet victory! History in the books once more! Thank you everyone for your undying support,” Azkals skipper Aly Borromeo said on his Twitter.

It was a massive victory for the Filipinos, who badly needed a win entering the match to stay alive after being held to two draws in their first two matches against Palestine (0-0) and Myanmar (1-1).

But the Azkals, who installed themselves as one of the emerging football powers in the region, played to their potential, followed national coach Hans Michael Weiss’ battle plan to the letter and were rewarded.

“The game plan was put into action and it worked perfectly,” Weiss said of the Azkals, who proved relentless in attack despite playing their third game in five days.  

Araneta put the Philippine Azkals ahead after the 41st minute, but the floodgates only opened after the break with Guirado scoring twice when the Filipinos already appeared toying with their rivals with impeccable wing plays.

A proud product of Barotac Nuevo in Iloilo City, Araneta scored his first goal in nine matches when he picked up a loose ball from Guirado from the right flank, which he later converted despite being partially blocked by the Bangladeshi goalkeeper.

Araneta later turned a provider when his low header from the back post found an unmarked Guirado, who took advantage of the wide space for a spectacular header that doubled the lead 14 minutes later.

The 26-year-old Guirado, who hardly speaks English or Filipino and whose mother, Angela Aldeguer, hails from Ilagan City in Isabela, later scored on right foot in the 79th when he picked up a loose ball from 20 yards outside the box.

It was great relief effort for Guirado, who lived up to his tough role as reliever for the injured and absent star striker in Phil Younghusband.

“We can’t still believe we won the match. And now we’re in the finals,” Araneta, who turned 29, on March 2, said of the Azkals who are expected to arrive in the country early Sunday morning.

Araneta’s shot actually broke a long dry spell dating back to last year or since he completed a rare hat trick in the Azkals 5-0 thumping of the Timor Leste in the Suzuki Cup last year.

With the victory, the Filipinos finished with five points behind group leader Palestine, which went on to beat Myanmar, 2-1, to gain seven points and secure the other finals slot.

Bangladesh finished the group stage with three points, while the hosts Myanmar with one.
Aside from the Azkals and Palestine, the others teams which made it in the Elite 8 are India (2008 champ), Turkmenistan, Maldives, Tajikistan (2006 champ). Expected to join the group is World Cup qualifier North Korea.

“Great win, good feeling, priceless!!! Thank you all for the support, couldn't have done it without you guys!” said Anton Del Rosario who also made a stellar job in the back line.

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Guirado shines as Azkals reach AFC Challenge Cup quarterfinal round

source : gmanews.tv

Guirado shines as Azkals reach AFC Challenge Cup quarterfinal round

Angel Guirado starred in the Philippine Azkals' 3-0 dismantling of Bangladesh in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup on Friday at the Bogyoke Aung San Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar.

The Filipino-Spanish striker, one of the last-minute replacements for the injured Phil Younghusband, scored twice in the second half as the Azkals earned a much-needed three points in the group stage of the Challenge Cup.

The 26-year-old Guirado first scored in the 55th minute, then added one more in the 80th minute to secure the win for the wards of coach Michael Weiss.

Ian Araneta, a veteran forward of the Philippine Air Force, opened up the scoring for the Azkals when he found the back of the net in the 41st minute as the Philippine team took a 1-0 lead at the turn.

The Philippines finished undefeated after consecutive draws with Myanmar (1-1) and fellow qualifier Palestine (0-0) – a 3-1 winner over the hosts – to enter the Last 8.

Other quarterfinalists were Group B qualifiers India and Turkmenistan, and the Maldives and Tajikistan (Group C).

Group D – which has 2010 AFC Challenge Cup champions North Korea, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the winner of the playoff match between Cambodia and Macau – will start their final qualifying matches on April 7.

The top two teams in Group D will earn the last two spots in the Last 8 of the biennial tournament.

Tougher assignment

But reaching the next phase of the tournament for the first time means a tougher job for the Azkals, who are expected to arrive in Manila on Sunday.

“We are happy with the win. The team gave us another reason to be proud of it. I thank everyone who supported the Azkals for their prayers. But this is one more step, that we entered the tougher phase of the tournament," said Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Marano “Nonong" Araneta.

But Araneta believes the Azkals can go further in the Challenge Cup. “We have one year to prepare and one year to further strengthen the team. We still have elimination matches to play in a World Cup qualifier."

Araneta said the Last 8 teams in the Challenge Cup will be divided into two groups, with the top two teams in each group earning spots in the AFC Challenge Cup’s championship round. - Jon Perez, TJD, KY, GMA News

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Bangladesh 0-3 Philippines

source: the-afc.com

Yangon: The Philippines joined Palestine in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup finals after comprehensively beating Bangladesh 3-0 in their final qualifying Group A fixture on Friday.

The match at the Bogyoke Aung San Stadium was goalless until Philippines Air Force forward Ian Araneta lifted his side with the opener five minutes from the interval.

Spain-born forward Angel Guirado doubled the Philippines’ advantage ten minutes in the second half before the 26-year-old, who plays his club football for Malaga-based CD Ronda in Spain’s Tercera Division scored his second in the 80th minute, to seal the win that saw the ASEAN side finish undefeated following draws against hosts Myanmar (1-1) and fellow qualifiers Palestine (0-0).

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LIVE: PH Azkals now 3-0 over Bengal Tigers

source: abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines (5th UPDATE) – The Philippine Azkals scored a 3rd goal against the Bangladesh Bengal Tigers for a commanding 3-0 lead in their Challenge Cup group stage game in Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar.

Filipino-Spanish striker Angel Aldeguer Guirado is becoming a revelation for the Azkals after scoring 2 goals in the second half of the game taking place at the Aung San Stadium.

Guirado’s first goal came early in the second half after heading in a shot from Ian Araneta.
He followed this up by striking another goal in the in the 80th minute.

Earlier, Araneta scored the first goal in the 41st minute of the game after picking up a loose ball off Guirado.

The Bengal Tigers are frantically working their way back into the game. The Azkals, however, are bent on to secure the win and advance into the Challenge Cup finals in 2012.

The Filipino booters started out aggressively, launching a full attack against the Bengal Tigers.

This aggressive play resulted to an early injury stoppage that stretchered Bangladesh’s Zahid off the field.

Guirado and Chieffy Caligdong also made sure to keep the Bangladesh defense busy by closing in several goal attempts.

The Filipino squad also put up an excellent defense with team captain Aly Borromeo, Anton del Rosario and Ray Jonsson clipping Bangladesh’s wings.

The Azkals had a scare in the first half when Bangladesh nearly scored on a loose ball.

Fortunately, Filipino-British keeper Neil Etheridge came out to clear the ball.

ABS-CBN News' Dyan Castillejo (@DYANCASTILLEJO) is live-tweeting the match. You can also follow the ongoing match on Twitter by using the hashtag #Azkals. 

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Gier leaves Azkals to be with wife

source: abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-British Azkals player Rob Gier left the team currently in Myanmar on Thursday to be with his pregnant wife.

The 31-year-old Gier, one of the Azkals’ best defenders, had to rush back to England to be with his wife who is having a delicate pregnancy.

Other team members will have to step up for their game against the Bengal Tigers.
The team practiced for about an hour-and-a-half on Thursday. They badly need the win to qualify for the Challenge Cup tournament proper in 2012.

James, Simon free to play
Filipino-British strikers James Younghusband and Simon Greatwich are still free to play against Bangladesh despite incurring yellow cards in the group stage.

The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) assured Filipino fans that Younghusband and Greatwich will suit up for Friday’s game despite being penalized with yellow cards both in the playoffs and group stage.

The two got yellow cards each in the Azkals’ qualifying series against Mongolia. Younghusband and Greatwich agains incurred yellow cards, this time in the group stage.

The PFF cited that based on Challenge Cup rules and regulations, the yellow cards received by the players in the qualifiers will not be carried over to the group stage.

"So don't worry because @JYH53 and @SimonGreatwich (Younghusband and Greatwich's Twitter usernames respectively) can play on Friday v Bangladesh," PFF stressed through its Twitter account. – With a report from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News

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Azkals need to beat Bangladesh for slot in AFC finals in 2012

source: By Cedelf P. Tupas
Philippine Daily Inquirer

RANGOON—Forget about the promising start and the complicated scenarios. The Philippines’ campaign to qualify in the AFC Challenge Cup now boils down to one final game.

Battle-weary yet pumped up, the national booters look to nail a spot in the final tournament in 2012 when they face a confident Bangladesh squad in their last match of group qualifying at the Aung San Stadium here on Friday.

Running third in the four-team bracket with two points after two draws, the Azkals’ qualification hopes rest on the 3:30 p.m. duel (5 p.m. in Manila) with the Bangladeshis who are coming off a stunning 2-0 win over Myanmar Wednesday night.

A win—regardless of the margin and regardless of the result of the match between Palestine and Myanmar—will be enough for the Azkals.

Another draw will mean elimination for the Azkals and send Bangladesh through to the next round.

Only the top two teams here will advance to the next round to join India, Maldives, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, which have already qualified from their respective groups.

The Azkals had started brightly in the tournament by grabbing a 1-0 lead against the host Burmese side Monday, before yielding a goal deep into injury time to settle for a 1-1 stalemate. They also battled to a scoreless draw against Palestine Wednesday.

Relaxing outside his room with several teammates at the Hotel Yangon Thursday noon, skipper Aly Borromeo maintained that the Azkals were ready for the challenge.

“We are all pumped up,” said Borromeo. “Mentally we are already there (for the match against Bangladesh). We would have wanted to play today and get this over with.”

Borromeo said the key would be putting the pressure early on Bangladesh and banging in an early goal.

“We have to play direct against them, win every set piece, every corner kick, put crosses in,” said Borromeo. “We must put the pressure right away.”

National coach Hans Michael Weiss has expressed concern over the fatigue factor that could take a toll on his players.

Like Bangladesh, the Azkals will be playing their third match in five days in hot and humid conditions here ranging from 30 to 35 degrees celsius. The Azkals played in Ulan Bator in Mongolia last week in freezing weather.

The German coach is also wary of the Bangladesh threat, having watched them slip-passing their way in the victory against Myanmar.

“Absolutely, this Bangladesh match was what we feel is important,” said Weiss, still looking for his second victory after the 2-0 blanking of Mongolia in Bacolod last February 9.

“We anticipated Myanmar and Palestine to be tough matches. But Bangladesh cannot be underestimated. I think all four teams are in a similar level with advantages that’s why the tournament is decided on the last day.”

The Azkals will miss Rob Gier for the crucial duel, after the veteran defender flew back to England to be with his pregnant wife.

Gier’s absence could pave the way for Roel Gener or Jason Sabio’s return to the starting side.
Filipino-Danish midfielder Jerry Lucena, still fighting jetlag and feeling his way into the squad, is still expected to make his second straight start together with Fil-Spanish attacker Angel Aldeguer Guirado, who has vowed to put up an improved performance from the Palestine game.

Bangladesh’s Croation coach Robert Rubcic believes the Filipinos have the edge against his squad.

“Our team is very tired,” said Rubcic. “The Philippines is a better side, they have better individual players. It will be very difficult. We have young players.”

Similar to the Philippines, Bangladesh also needs a victory for its country, according to Rubcic.

“We will go for the win,” said Rubcic, dismissing the idea that his squad, which only needs a draw, will just sit back and defend for a stalemate. “All of Bangladesh wants us to win. A win is also big for the country.”

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