Philippine Azkals ended the AFC Challenge Cup 2012 campaign strong by beating Palestine, 4-3, to claim 3rd place in the competition. The Philippine Azkals will still be going back home proud for accomplishing a third place finish in this year’s AFC Challenge Cup tournament. It was the best finish for the Philippines in the AFC Challenge Cup history.
The Azkals defeated the Palestine Knights in a high-scoring game, 4-3 at Dasrath Rangasala Stadium, in Kathmandu, Nepal.
For the last time after more than two weeks of visiting a high and cold country, Phil Younghusband once again led the Azkals by delivering two goals in the first half — his sixth in the tournament — from a quick goal in the 4th minute and a penalty shot in the 25th.The controversial Fil-Spanish Angel Guirado also aided with a goal in the 41st minute while his older brother Juani Guirado ensured one more goal in the 68th minute after the Knights came close, 3-2, with 34 minutes left in the regulation.
Meanwhile, Azkals’ goalkeeper Ed Sacapano also did well on his defense. Sacapano replaced Neil Etheridge, who was suspended in the final 13 minutes and additional 3-minute injury time when the Palestines drew nearby the Azkals, 4-3, with the 78th minute goal of Fahed Attal.
Sacapano collected overall 17 attacks the whole night from the Knights, including the 10 on goal shots and saved six.
“The match was a thriller. Do or die. I think overall we deserved the third place. Congratulations to my team. They showed great spirit,” commented the Azkals coach Hans Michael Weiss, whose troop has gotten three overall wins and two losses in the country’s very first scene at the AFC Challenge Cup main draw.
This is so far, the highest position Philippines has achieved in the Challenge Cup and the first medal finish in a huge international event since it placed third at Far Eastern Games in 1934. Philippines’ last championship title was in an international tournament during the inaugural of Far Eastern Games in 1913.
Phil Younghusband delivered the first goal for the Philippines from a long pass coming from Chieffy Caligdong towards the right of the pitch. Younghusband decoyed two Knights defenders Mousa Abujazar and Khaled Mahdi to the right and then to the left, and found a space to release an assault the Palestinian goalkeeper Ramzi Saleh failed to save.
Palestine tied the score when Abdulhamid Abuhabib took advantage on the Azkals’ loose defense above the box to hit a goal in the 21st minute.
Azkals vs Palestine Highlights in AFC Cup 2012
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