AZKALS LOSE ON PENALTY SHOOTOUT BUT WIN RESPECT OF THE KOREANS AND THE FANS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 22 Jan 2012
Playing minus popular stars Phil and James Younghusband of the Loyola-Meralco United Football League team as well as four other lesser lights from the Kaya squad, the Azkals United won the respect of the visiting Korean third division champions Icheon Citizen FC who won the Kia RIO Cup in a penalty shootout by a score of 4-2 after a 1-1 score in regulation.
Filipino referee Wilfredo Bermejo who first awarded the Azkals a clear penalty but then reversed himself after consulting the linesman deprived the Azkals United of a potential goal and a 2-1 victory in a well-attended match for the victims of ?Sendong.?
However, respect football analyst Bob Guerrero didn?t disagree with the decision and highlighted the fact that the officials worked as a team which is essential and that they didn?t favor the home team which was also commendable. It also turned out that the referee had earlier officiated in a UFL match at 2:00 p.m.
The Korean officials in the stands as well as the Icheon Citizen FC players didn?t tale issue with the penalty call. When ABS-CBN showed slo-motion replays on the giant screen inside the Rizal Memorial Stadium which is taboo in football there was a howl of protest from the fans as well as the Azkal players led by Angel Guirado who played his best game since donning the country?s colors.
The guts stand of the Azkals United proved that given a chance to compete the players who are normally on the sidelines could step up and play as a compact unit, helping each both in defense and offense.
Fil-German Denis Wolf showed his definite potential as a striker and it was only his apparent nervousness that told on at least four attempts at goal, one of which was denied by the tall South Korean keeper after nifty pass from Chieff Caligdong who was a constant source of trouble for the Icheon Citizen defenders.
The visitors scored in the 20th minute through Bin Tae Wan who capitalized on one of the Azkals defenders falling down and hammered home a fine goal beating Eduard Sacapano all ends up.
Unfazed, the Filipinos attacked relentlessly and kept play for long spells in the Korean half and defended resolutely to thwart every Icheon Citizens counter-attack.
Finally the Azkals were rewarded in the 89th minute when young Fil-Iranian Misagh Bahadoran who had a fine game played the ball in to Filipino-Italian newcomer Marwin Angeles who scored to send the fans up on their feet screaming with joy.
Because a trophy was at stake there had to be a penalty shootout to determine a winner and the physically stronger Koreans who played a rugged game hammered home four spot kicks past a hapless Filipino goalie while Guirado was unlucky to hit the cross bar while Carli de Murga shot way over the cross bar and agonized after the miss.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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