| Philippines battle Tajiks to scoreless draw |
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| Thursday, 15 May 2008 | |||||||
 view gallery ILOILO CITY - The RP booters were reduced to 10 men on the field but fought valiantly in holding defending champion Tajikistan to a scoreless draw in a highly-physical encounter to keep their qualification hopes alive in the Asian Challenge Cup Group B Qualifiers here Thursday. Playing resolute defense from start to finish, the Filipinos survived the ejection pf defender Jason Cordova in the 21st minute to fashion out the hard-earned draw in front of a huge crowd at the Iloilo Sports Complex. Cordova, a 5-foot-10 defender from Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, was slapped the red card in the 21st minute for punching Tajikistan star striker Khamikov Numondzhon in the face, which only fueled the emotional intensity of the match several notches. Four Tajik players were booked, while Anton Del Rosario, who was also impressive on defense, was given the yellow card, underscoring the match’s ruggedness in the event sponsored by Philippine Sports Commission, Milo, Del Monte, Magnolia, Gatorade, Smart, GNC and Mizuno, the national team’s official outfitter. Del Rosario got involved in a halftime scuffle with Tajik defender Zafardzhon Zuvaydov as both teams headed for their respective dugouts, before cooler heads prevailed. Still, it was an outstanding outcome for the Filipinos, who, at No. 189, are ranked 24 places below the Tajikistanis in the latest FIFA world rankings. National coach Norman Fegidero expressed satisfaction over the result that puts them level on points with the Tajikistanis, who are ahead on goal difference because of their 3-1 victory over Bhutan last Tuesday. "We played very well. It's a good result for us," said Fegidero. "We played very tight and we showed them we were well-prepared". Defender Aly Borromeo, the pillar of the RP defense, said the red card on Cordova only "made the team stronger". "They thought they would come here and overwhelm us but we proved them wrong. The red card only made us stronger," Borromeo said. The Philippines opted for a defensive tack and Tajikistan was forced to a host of half-chances, with the best coming from Sohib Savankulov, whose 34th minute effort from 20 yards whistled inches off the right top corner. Three minutes later, though, the Filipinos should have taken the lead when goalkeeper Neil Etheridge's clearance found an unmarked Phil Younghusband on the attacking third, but the striker's lofted effort went over Tajik keeper Alisher Tuychiev and sailed wide. Games Saturday 3:30 pm. – Tajikistan vs. Brunei (Iloilo Sports Complex) 3:30 p.m. – RP vs. Bhutan (Barotac Nuevo)
Dominique
said:
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| go Azkals! MORE GOALS! ONE BIG FIGHT |
JR Salazar
said:
| Bhutan is going to need to be crushed. That's the only way that can get us pass the Tajiks less than a couple days' time. GO AZKALS!!! |
