Azkals blow late lead in 2-1 loss to Turkmenistan
The Philippines Azkals, undermanned and all, were just 10 minutes away from improbably booking a place in the finals and extending their dream run in the AFC Challenge Cup. But in a span of just six minutes, the dream turned into a nightmare as Turkmenistan pounced on some defensive miscues to score twice and stun the Azkals, 2-1, in a tense match in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Turkmenistan was staring at its first-ever loss to the Philippines in international play, having comfortably won the two countries' only other encounter in 2009 by a score of 5-0. A lot has changed since then, and this time the Turkmen needed two late-match goals to salvage the win and advance to the Challenge Cup finals for the second time.
Phil Younghusband had given the Philippines the lead in the 25th minute, heading in a great cross from Paul Mulders for his fourth goal of the tournament as he continued his fine play. Turkmenistan, the winner of Group A, pressed its attack for the rest of the first half in search of the equalizer only to be thwarted by good goalkeeping from Neil Etheridge.
The Turkmen almost drew level in the 41st minute when Gahryman Chonkayev found Arslanmyrat Amanov unmarked inside the box, but theTurkmenistan star's shot was wide. Chonkayev thought he had delivered the equalizer in the 45th minute, but his goal was nullified by an offside call.
In the second half, the Turkmen continued pressing their attack, and Etheridge was again called on to snuff out several quality attempts. A long-range strike by Serdar Annaorazov in the 60th minute went straight to Etheridge, and six minutes later Elman Tagayev's effort forced the Fulham keeper to make a great save with a dive to his right.
The Akzals, meanwhile, were searching for that second goal that would virtually put the outcome beyond doubt, and in the 69th skipper Chieffy Caligdong created a chance when he dispossessed the Turkmen defense on the left flank and fired in a cross which Jason De Jong just failed to latch on to, his shot bouncing harmlessly wide and out.
Two minutes later, though, Caligdong was replaced by veteran defender Roel Gener in a defensive move by Coach Hans Michael Weiss to protect the lead. But shortly afterwards it was the Philippines that had a good shot on goal, with substitute Lexton Moy unleashing a strike that was saved by Turkmen keeper Rahmanberdi Alyhanov.
The Azkals were only 10 minutes away from making it to the finals when Amanov, Turkmenistan's football player of the year, took advantage of a gap in the Azkals' defensive line to fire home a rocket-like shot from long range into the deep left corner that knotted it up at 1-1.
And just when it looked like the two sides were headed into a 30-minute extension, Chonkayev outmaneuvered three defenders with some nifty footwork and slotted home the go-ahead goal in the 86th minute, all but sealing an incredible come-from-behind victory and preventing the Azkals from keeping their date with destiny.
In a last-ditch effort to force a draw, Weiss sent in Ian Araneta for the ineffective Gener, but it was all for naught. The meltdown continued in stoppage time, when Etheridge, his frustration finally boiling over, was sent off for kicking a Turkmenistan player from behind.
Even though this loss was hard to swallow, the Azkals still achieved a major milestone by advancing to the semifinals for the first time. They were at a disadvantage even before the match started, with James Younghusband and Angel Guirado both serving suspensions and defender Jason Sabio out with a knee injury. All three played well in the Azkals' previous matches, particularly Guirado, who was instrumental in the Philippines' two goals against Tajikistan.
There is still third place to fight for, which the Azkals will do on Monday against the loser of the North Korea-Palestine match. But they will have to do it without Etheridge, who drew an automatic suspension for his red card.
E-mail: sid_ventura@yahoo.com. Twitter: @Sid_Ventura
