Phil Younghusband attempts a shot during the second half of their 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers match against Turkmenistan on Tuesday. (FCF / Ken Koo)
Phil Younghusband scores winning goal, but sent off late in match
The Philippines makes it through to their second straight AFC Challenge Cup appearance, following their narrow victory to close out the qualifier rounds on Tuesday night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
Despite a very tight match that could have gone either way, the Azkals had more dangerous attempts on target and maintained the pressure around the midfield to complete a 1-0 victory over Turkmenistan in the final Group E match.
“It was a very hard-fought victory. We went 100 percent against a very stubborn, very severely (sic) attacking and aggressively defending Turkmenistan,” said head coach Hans Michael Weiss of their tormentors in the semifinals of the 2012 edition held in Nepal.
“We didn’t want to qualify as a second runner-up, we wanted to qualify as top of the group. That’s what we did and now it’s time to prepare for 2015 in Australia,” he added.
Phil Younghusband scored the match-deciding goal in the 66th minute off a scramble play, but found himself hitting the showers in the dying minutes of the match after incurring his second yellow card of the match.
Prior to his sending-off at the 86th minute, the Loyola Meralco FC forward was also booked a minute before halftime for a deliberate handball inside the box.
With the result, both teams each punch a ticket to the 2014 tournament to be held in Maldives.
The Philippines finish with the best record among qualifying teams on superior goal difference (+12) over Group B winners and host Kyrgyzstan (+3). On the other hand, Turkmenistan joins Group D runners-up Bangladesh as the two best second-placers, ousting India, Tajikistan, and Laos from the tournament.
Despite the loss, Turkmenistan head coach Hojageldiyev Yazguly praised not only his squad’s effort, but the Philippines’ performance as well. He added that the match was very valuable for both teams in terms of experience.
