The Azkals make history in an eventful Peace Cup finale
My postgame thoughts on the Azkals' Peace Cup-clinching win over Chinese Taipei.
This was a feel-good moment the Azkals desperately needed. The Philippines was hugely favored to lift this trophy, but the title means more because of the timing. The loss at Laos, the dropping of the team's two most popular players, and the general waning of interest for the team had hung like a cloud over the squad. All that vanished in the wake of a solid 3-1 win over Chinese Taipei. The atmosphere at pitch-side afterwards was jubilant and somewhat reminiscent of the win over Sri Lanka last year. Once again the team is enveloped in good vibes. It needs plenty of that with the Suzuki Cup looming.
There is one word that best describes the Chinese Taipei defending in the first half; and it is "shambolic." The dictionary classifies it as a primarily British slang word meaning "disorderly or chaotic." Synonyms: disorganized, muddled, "at sixes and sevens."
Lee Pin Hsien played a head-scratching pass across his goal that Chieffy Caligdong easily picked off and cooly converted. (Chieffy said afterwards it was Yang Hao Hsun, the #16 but I'm not sure.) Then Tsai Hsien Tang gift-wrapped another goal eight minutes later with a limp ball that OJ Porteria filched and stuffed into the net.
You do not play soft square passes in front of your goal when opponents are anywhere near you. Period. Never. The instinct to do so should be weeded out of you by the youth level. But twice the Chinese Taipei backline committed this most egregious of errors and paid dearly for it. Take out these two howlers and Chinese Taipei actually played a pretty good game. But then, you can never take them out. They happened.
The two blunders were indeed awful but full credit to Chieffy Caligdong and OJ Porteria for finishing so brilliantly on both occasions.
FACT: in last year's World Cup qualifying, Malaysia needed the Away-Goals rule to beat Chinese Taipei over two legs. Shocking. Malaysia would overrun this team now.
Anto Gonzales and Matthew Uy have differing physiques but the same goal: to rule the midfield. The two are a study in contrasts: Uy stocky and musclar, Gonzales scrawny but determined. They were sensational together in the center of the park, keeping control of the ball and starving Chinese Taipei of possession. Uy is a natural with the ball at his feet and deservedly took the Best Midfielder trophy. Gonzales made up for his one mistake in the 41st minute with a heady trackback and fierce tackle to dislodge the ball from an opponent.
Paul Mulders and Stephan Schrock would be great in the Suzuki Cup, but if they aren't released the midfield just might be fine with these two, and Marwin Angeles as well.
Chinese Taipei's orange-shirted team official reminded us how unpredictable sports can be. Needless to say, this chap needed a major chill pill during the game. Granted it was a hard challenge by Demit Omphroy in the box, but replays showed that the defender did catch the ball and did tackle Chang Han from the side, not the back. It should also be noted that referee Phung Dinh Dung was about 60 meters closer to the play than Mr. Orange Shirt, whose petulant refusal to leave the dugout was more comical than anything else. It was also interesting how he complained far more vociferously than any of his players did. But...
His sending-off energized his team. Chinese Taipei were a different eleven after Mr. Orange Shirt was exiled to the VIP section. They played with an urgency and passion that was lacking in the first half and started to create chances. Lo Chi An and Lo Chi En were frisky, and Chang Han enterprising. Sometimes in Basketball a coach deliberately gets a Technical Foul to get his team going. The tactic, whether intended or not, almost paid off, although any chance of victory was scuppered by...
There is one word that best describes the Chinese Taipei penalty attempt: "unfathomable." Ed Sacapano is a small goalkeeper. The best recourse for Yang Chao Hsun would have been to zero in on a top corner. Instead he inexplicably booted the ball mere feet away from Ed, and the Army keeper made the stop. The game was very much in balance after De Jong tripped a Chinese Taipei striker and the ref pointed to the spot. Had the visitors nailed the penalty Chinese Taipei could have battled back, especially with the almost 12 minutes of stoppage time played. But that miss sealed it for the Philippines, and put a happy bookend to what was an otherwise ordinary second half for the Azkals.
I'm happy that Ed Sacapano won Best Keeper, but Doug Herrick was equally deserving. Like Sacapano, Herrick also made a blunder that caused a goal. But the big Guamanian also made a bunch of terrific saves, the best perhaps against Lexton Moy in the second half last Thursday. He kept a clean sheet as Guam beat Macau earlier in the day.
So we are fine without the Younghusbands right? Er, not really. Sure we won all three matches in the Peace Cup and disturbed the nets nine times. But the next three games, versus Bahrain, Kuwait and Singapore, will be far sterner tests than the last three. Only then will know how much we'll miss the brothers' quality.
The best goal of the day for me was in the Guam-Macau match. Jonah Romero stormed down the left flank, delivered a great pass to Zachary Deville, who reeled off an inch-perfect cross. Marcus Lopez's forehead was waiting for it on the other end, and he deftly redirected it past Ho Man Fai. A simple, skillful, attractive team goal. It's a shame only about a hundred and fifty sets of eyeballs saw it. If the ticket is for a doubleheader, why not get full value and take in both games?
The Peace Cup is a great idea and we should do it again, but next time with Hong Kong. Lets face it, the teams we faced were milquetoast, with the possible execption of Guam. Former national team coach Juan Cutillas told me that we wouldn't learn much from playing these teams. I can't disagree with him. It would have been okay to have two middling teams, but next year a tough, physical and technically demanding squad like Hong Kong will add prestige and importance to this event.
That song "Pilipinas" that was blaring on the speakers is great, with the exception of one line. It's catchy, with a driving, percussive beat. I love the "wo-ohs" in the end and the powerful, ethnic arrangement. But the lyrics say "ang Diyos ay nasa panig natin." (God is on our side.) As a Universalist Christian, I am uncomfortable with that. I believe God loves all nations and all peoples of all races and creeds. Saying He is on our side for me implies He isn't on the side of our opponents, and that is not something I'm comfortable with. As a retired songwriter, I think I would have written something else.
For me it's a quibble but an important one.
The Ultras Filipinas showed heart and class. After cheering all game long the cheering squad composed of Kaya and Air Force fans, as well as a few others I presume, could be heard saluting the visitors with a chant of "Chinese Taipei." I somehow cannot imagine a cheering squad of another country, or even a big club, doing the same. Neat.
You can follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.
