AZKALS DRAW WITH DEFENDING CHAMPS HONGKONG IN LONG TENG CUP
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 01 Oct 2011
The Philippine Azkals playing without six of its mainstays drew with defending champions Hong Kong 3-3 in the opening game of the Long Teng Cup in Kaoshiung, Chinese Taipei on Friday evening.
Two superb goals by Chieffy Caligdong and an excellent penalty scored by striker Phil Younghusband demonstrated the fighting heart of the Filipinos who were down 0-2 after some 22 minutes into the game.
23 year old Fil-German goalkeeper Roland Muller made some superb saves to stave off the Hong Kong forwards who moved the ball around with fluent and accurate passes while attacking on both wings.
After the initial shock of an opening goal which once again highlighted the defensive frailties of the Azkals, Muller settled down and with Carlos de Murga playing a solid defensive role the Azkals were able to stave off the defending champions who, despite being down to ten men in the second half kept attacking in what was an entertaining game of football.
A compact crowd of flag-waving, banner carrying Filipinos, more thane ninety percent of whom were women cheered the Azkals constantly in a show of support that is fast becoming a welcome tradition among overseas Filipinos.
The fans never lost heart after being down 0-2 and the Azkals showed their class as they ripped through the Hong Kong defense with the Younghusbands, Phil and James and Caligdong a constant threat.
Phil Younghusband put the Azkals on the scoreboard with a retaken penalty after he was brought down in the box and the referee who made three questionable offside calls against the Philippines late in the match ordering a re-take after an infraction.
Phil who slotted the first attempt into the left hand corner of the net, swung around and slammed the ball in to the right on the second attempt beating Hong Kong goalkeeper all ends up.
That was the cue for Caligdong?s two-footed magic. He ripped the first with a cracking left footed shot that slammed into the corner of the net and used his right for the second goal which was another cracker that appeared to get a slight deflection off a Hong Kong defender.
The Philippines was terribly unlucky to concede a third goal some five minutes before the final whistle when a free kick came off the right before the waiting boot of youngster Cheng Lai Hin who slotted the ball past Muller to salvage a draw.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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