Azkals win!

THE Philippine national team secured a spot in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup final round after routing Bangladesh, 3-0, in the Group A qualifiers in Myanmar yesterday.

The Azkals finished second in the group with five points on two draws and a win, while Palestine took the top spot after a tough 3-1 win over host Myanmar yesterday.



“The game plan was put into action and it worked perfectly,” coach Hans Michael Weiss told Pinoyfootball.com.

Team manager Dan Palami also told Pinoyfootball.com, “I’m overwhelmed by the win, we made history today.”

Palestine has seven points on two wins and a draw, while Bangladesh is third with one win, 2-0, against Myanmar last Wednesday. Myanmar, which took a 1-0 lead over Palestine yesterday is last with only one point, a draw with the Azkals.

With Rob Gier off the squad due to a family emergency, Jason Sabio was inserted in the back line along with captain Alexander Borromeo, Anton del Rosario and Ray Jonsson. Ian Araneta and Yanti Barsales also started as forwards, while James Younghusband, Jerry Lucena and Angel Guirado Aldeguer were the midfielders.

Simon Greatwich, who started in the first two matches, was stricken off the starting 11.

According to the updates provided by Pinoyfootball.com, the Azkals started strong with Emilio Caligdong, Aldeguer and Younghusband harassing the Bangladesh defense.

The Azkals finally after Ian Araneta collected a loose ball and beat the keeper in the 43rd minute. It was Araneta’s first goal in seven games for the Azkals.

Aldeguer, a Filipino-Spanish who only started playing for the Azkals in this tournament, headed in the second goal in the 53rd minute, and banged in the third from long distance in the 79th.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on March 26, 2011.


Sports

Comments

By the way, the Azkals won over Bangladesh! 3-0! One from Ian Araneta and two from Angel Guirado Aldeguer!

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