Coach Thomas Dooley’s first major tournament with the Azkals is already historical with the boys’ Finals match in the AFC Challenge Cup. Photo by Martin San Diego

Four years ago, the world’s most popular team sport is non-existent in the Philippines. But after those two sensational goals scored by two patient and determined Filipino Englishmen against the best team in Southeast Asia, Filipinos felt the charm of the beautiful game.
Those two lads—Christopher Greatwich and Philip Younghusband—relived the glory of Hanoi in December 2010 and led a ragtag Philippine Azkals on the cusp of Asian football glory after playing perhaps their most memorable international game against the tiny island nation Maldives.

Greatwich and Younghusband, accompanied by the best young turks of the Philippines’ football program, will play Friday for a spot in the 2015 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup against Palestine in the finals of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup in Male.

Unlike past years when the Azkals would always be regarded as underdogs, this time they are the favored team against a team that has never defeated them in international play.
The Azkals will bring on the table a more physical and defensive roster that brings a balance of energy and veteran savvy particularly among the defenders, with long-time veterans Rob Gier and Dennis Cagara teaming up with teenagers Daisuke Sato and Amani Aguinaldo (who singlehandedly stymied top tournament scorer Ali Ashfaq of Maldives) and newcomer Simone Rota. Coupled with the coming of age of goalkeeper Roland Muller, who replaced veteran Neil Etheridge from the game versus Laos onwards, this obscure defensive roster is perhaps the cornerstone of their Challenge Cup campaign.

While the current Azkals may reap monumental heaps of praise on their defense in this year’s Challenge Cup, their finals opponents Palestine in the only team so far that has not given up a goal in the tournament. The physical and nasty Palestinian team also has two potent scorers in Ashraf Nu’man and Abdelmahib Abubahib; however, they are the only scoring options of the team. Most probably, coach Thomas Dooley will yet assign Aguinaldo and Sato on them, which is the best way for the two to improve in their game.

The two national teams faced only twice in FIFA-sanctioned games. The first was in 2011 in Yangon for the Challenge Cup Qualifiers, which ended up in a scoreless draw. The two teams met again in the 2012 Challenge Cup in Kathmandu for the third place game, wherein the Azkals edged Palestine, 4-3.

Still, Palestine will be a tough match for the Philippines. Based on their excellent play in the Challenge Cup, there are no underdogs in this match. This will be physical and defensive on both ends. It will be anybody’s ball game. And beyond the skills, qualities, and
strategies of both teams, the beauty of the Challenge Cup finals is that through football, two struggling nations craving for glory will
share the limelight amidst their respective national struggles.

Watch the highlights followed by the full match that brought the Azkals to the AFC Challenge Cup
finals below