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U23 Azkals shine with 1-1 draw against tough UFL All Star side

The Philippine Mens' U23 Football team made another case for their SEA Games inclusion with a battling draw against the UFL All Stars on Sunday night at the Emperador Stadium.

Substitute David Fornea poked in an equalizer for the U23 squad just two minutes after Izo Elhabbib's 63rd minute strike for the All Stars.

A packed house witnessed an entertaining and open exhibition game with plenty of chances from both teams.

It was the first time the UFL had charged admission for a match in the Empy, and the entire bleachers area was full, plus almost all of the newly-finished grandstand. Bleacher spectators paid P100 for their seats while grandstand fans forked over P150.

The U23 Azkals enjoyed spirited performances from Paolo Bugas, Amani Aguinaldo, Boiboi Fernandez, Jinggoy Valmayor, Nathan Alquiros and Josh Beloya. Goalie Patrick Deyto, who played the first 52 minutes, impressed as well with two big stops.

The All Stars started with Chris Greatwich and Anton Del Rosario in the center of the defense, while in a bit of a wrinkle from All Star coach Ernie Nierras, Chieffy Caligdong began the game on the right wing.

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U23 coach Brian Reid went with a lineup similar to the one that lost 1-0 to Singapore's U23 recently, with one important change; Global's Niño Ochotorena at right back. That meant Nathan Octavio flipped over to left back, allowing the versatile Ronnie Aguisanda to play in a defensive, or holding midfield role, pushing Josh Beloya more in attack.

The All-Stars had the first few attacks, with Rufo Sanchez wide in the third minute, and Anton Del Rosario's long-range left footer well batted away by Deyto.

Josh Beloya had a weak attempt for the U23s two minutes later that Ref Cuaresma easily corralled.

Five minutes later Bugas had a go from distance but it was deflected wide. A minute later Aguinaldo, coming in from centerback, nearly opened the scoring with a volley off a corner kick.

In the 24th Valmayor was wide with an attempt after being fed by Beloya, who expertly juggled the ball before releasing the pass. A minute later Beloya hoofed over the bar with a volley and collided with Cuaresma.

The Loyola keeper was stretchered off with a hyperextended knee and was replaced by Stallion's Guilherme Hasegawa.

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The Brazilian custodian was put to work quickly when he alertly saved a Mark Hartmann header off a quality Ochotorena cross at the half-hour mark.

Five minutes later Caligdong volleyed straight at Deyto. Three minutes after that Anton Del Rosario nearly put the All Stars in front when his free kick skimmed off the wall and bounced off the upright.

Four minutes before the halftime whistle Tating Pasilan uncorked a powerful left footed attempt from outside the box that his Green Archers team mate, Deyto, redirected to safety.

Minutes later Valmayor broke free on a breakaway, showed great skill in slaloming around Del Rosario, then disappointed with a tame shot straight to Hasegawa.

At the half Nierras changed all of his outfield players, inserting his son Matthew, Neckson Leonora, Boogie Margarse, Val Kama, Hector Zaghi, Nonoy Felongco, Izo Elhabbib, Roel Gener, Misagh Bahadoran, and Jake Morallo.

Reid made only one change at the half, Jeremy Theuer for Nathan Octavio. Theuer went to right back and Ochotorena hopped over to left back.

The second half started with two near-misses by Nathan Alquiros, who was a threat all game long.

Minutes after Deyto gave way for Nick O'Donnell, who won a UAAP title for Ateneo in Season 75 but has since transferred to DLSU.

In the 56th minute Aguinaldo displayed some impressive speed in tracking back and shutting down Bahadoran, who had wriggled free and almost scored. Shortly after Valmayor clanged an attempt off the crossbar.

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A minute later Nomads' towering Dutch keeper, Friso Klok, went in for Hasegawa and Bugas departed for Angelo Marasigan.

In the 63rd minute the All Stars went ahead when Elhabbib was gifted the ball and space in the box. The Global star blasted past O'Donnell's right to make it 1-0.

It marks the second time the Sudanese has scored in a UFL All-Star game, as he was responsible for the All-Star's winning goal when they defeated the Azkals in an exhibition 4-3 in 2011.

But Reid made a terrific substitution right after, bringing on Fornea for Alquiros, and in the 65th minute the Masbateño from San Beda collected a pass from Theuer and off a cutback fired toward the goal from close range.

Klok pulled off a magnificent point-blank save but the rebound fell to Fornea, and the youngster blasted home for 1-1.

Soon after Reid brought in Carlo Liay and he nearly got on the scoresheet as well. In the 86th Jake Morallo of the All-Stars had a long-range opportunity but his shot went straight to O'Donnell.

Mark Hartmann could have been the game-winning hero but his 93rd minute free kick that skirted the wall was beautifully parried away by Klok.

“We should have won the game, to be fair” said Reid afterwards.

OTHER NOTES: In the undercard, Philippine Army defeated Union 3-1 in the second leg of their promotion-relegation two-legged playoff. The 8-4 aggregate score in favor of Army means they will be the only military team in the top flight in the 2014 league, while Union stays in Division two. Romano Vestal scored twice while Roel Gener picked up a goal.... Gener was fielded in the second half of the All Star game but was taken off 23 minutes in. The 38-year old had by then played 110 minutes of Football in the span of a few hours and said he needed to rest since he had just come back from injury. His Army and All Star team mate Boogie Margarse was not so lucky. He played the entire second half after starting against Union.... O'Donnell nearly made the gaffe off the evening, allowing a back pass to trickle behind him. But he immediately made amends with two stops right after.... The U23 team is missing Jeffrey Christiaens, who is hurt, and OJ Porteria, who is in the USA, as is Matt Uy....Cuaresma was seen hobbling under his own power after the game with a giant bandage on his left knee. He will undergo an MRI on Monday to assess the damage. Cuaresma is slated to start in the Singapore Cup for Loyola against Tanjong Pagar United in two weeks time.... PFF referee Waling Bermejo was at the venue before the game. He told me that he and three other PFF referees were supposed to officiate, but when they arrived it was a crew from the NCRFA who were given the nod to ref the game. According to another referee who watched the game, Dexter Roy Villaranda, there was a misunderstanding.... I met Mohammed Ahmed, a Jordanian who lives in the Philippines and whose kids play for Union. He told me that another reason why there should be a limit on foreigners in the UFL is that too many foreign players play briefly in the UFL then suddenly abandon their teams when a juicier offer comes up. The UFL will limit teams to only five foreigners on the pitch starting in the UFL Cup in October... It was reported that the Singapore U23 team that the U23 Azkals lost 1-0 to defeated Indonesia's U23 side by the same score.... The UFL's Ritchie Gannaban tweeted that if fans want a rematch of this game, they should tweet with the hashtag #LetsHaveARematch.

Follow Bob on Twitter @bhobg333.