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Thursday, 15 May 2008 |
 view gallery
ILOILO CITY - Tajikistan expected an easy win but the hard fighting RP men's football team just would not bow down and get beaten.
Instead the Azkals, gritty and never say die performance almost recorded one of the greatest upsets in Asian football but just settled to a scoreless draw in the second game of the Asian Challenge Cup Group B elimination tournament at the Iloilo Sports Complex.
And that was playing with only 10 men almost the entire match after defender Jason Cordova was red carded in the 21st minute for punching Tajikistan's forward Khakimov Numondzhon after a scuffle at the top of the penalty box.
"It was just a retaliation for a slap on the face when both guys scuffled. He then hit the Tajik forward in reaction to the slap. But the referee saw the punch that is why he was red carded,'' man of the match and Azkal central defender Ali Borromeo said during the post game press conference.
Playing with ten man on the field, the Azkals did not lose hope and leaned once again on the superb performance of Borromeo and fellow defenders Anton del Rosario and Joebel Bermejo. Coach Norman then quickly adjusted his players to the match and pulled back Phil Greatwich from the midfield to take over the place of Cordova .
"The Red card woke us up. Instead of faltering, we become united and adjusted our defense. If only we were complete we could have beaten those guys anywhere anytime," Borromeo said during the after match press conference.
Coach Norman was again happy with the results. "It was a good result. We will try to score as many goals as we can against Bhutan on Saturday in Barotac to qualify,'' he said.
The Azkals need to score more goals against Bhutan to keep their hopes of making it to the ACC final in India in August.
Tajikistan's coach Kodirov Pulod blamed the pitch for his team's performance. "We could not pass the ball well. My players could not play very well because of the mud on the pitch,''
The pitch was muddy because of the rain that soaked the field for three days. But it was all sunshine this afternoon and the field was playable.
The Azkals had loads of chances in scoring one of the great upset in Asian football with Phil Younghusband and Chad Gould leading the attack early in the match.
Chad Gould had a one-on-one with Tajikistan's goalkeeper Tuychiev Alisher but his efforts went directly to his hands.
After the Red card, the Azkals instead of surrendering, stepped on the gas and let Chieffy Caligdong and his left foot again do the talking at the left side. Cheiffy provided some brilliant crosses but his efforts always fell short.
The Azkals best chance came from Phili Younghusband when he broke off the Tajik's defense but his right foot lob went flying above the crossbar.
The Tajiks also have their own chances with midfielder Fathuloev Fathkhullo taking long range shots from the midfield. His efforts were also fell short.
Phil Younghusband and his brother James with their one-two passes, put the Tajiks in trouble at the right side a couple of times early in the second half but the usual lack of finishing failed to put the Azkals up front.
Chris Greatwich as usual was an engine at the middle and had his own chance of scoring with a long shot blast that was caught by the Tajiks once again.
Chieffy also had his own blast in the middle of the second but his shot went at the side of the net instead.
The Azkals pushed for a goal late in the second half with Phil leading the attack in one moment when he was left unguarded at the right. He then crossed the ball to Chieffy but the a Tajik defender cleared away the ball.
As usual goalkeeper Neil Etheridge played flawless football saving shots after shots one of which was a one on one with a Tajik striker in the dying minutes of the ballgame. The Tajik striker came fast at the left side but Neil closed him in forcing him take his shot wide.
But the highlight of the day belonged to Ali Borromeo who once again unleshed a streaking slide tackle at the center and intercepting the ball from a Tajik striker. JB
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