BACOLOD, Negros Occidental, Philippines—The match considered puny in international football is the biggest one yet for the Philippines.
Hoping to build on their recent success, the Philippines faces Mongolia on Wednesday in the first leg of their Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup qualifying match before an expected sellout crowd of 18,000 at the Panaad Stadium here.
For a change, the team—affectionately called the Azkals—will be the heavy favorites against the unheralded Mongolians, who are ranked 30 places lower than them in the latest world rankings.
The match kicks off at 7 p.m., and the Panaad is expected to be enveloped in a sea of white in a show of support for the white-shirted Azkals, who achieved fame and lured support following an amazing run to the semifinals of the AFF Suzuki Cup last December.
The importance of the match is not lost on the team.
“We have to prove that what we achieved in 2010 was not a fluke,” said team manager Dan Palami. “We know how important this match is for Philippine football, so we intend to make a good impression in front of our countrymen.”
“We have waited so long for football to touch the hearts of Filipinos and we really have the opportunity to do that,” said team captain Aly Borromeo.
While all the signs point to a victory, the Philippines’ German coach Hans Michael Weiss moved on Tuesday to temper the expectations.
“The Azkals should not be overconfident because there is still an opponent on the other side,” said Weiss.
“They [Mongolians] are a tough team as well. We know they have been preparing. We have high respect for the team.”
Weiss is wary that Mongolia could apply an overly defensive game and turn the tables on the Philippines, similar to what the Azkals did to heavy favorite Vietnam in the Suzuki Cup last December.
“There’s a tendency that they might not play very offensively,” said the PH coach. “But we will have solutions against compact, deep-standing sides.”
Weiss has yet to name his starting 11, but there is a big possibility he will field a squad composed of Suzuki Cup standouts Neil Etheridge, Borromeo, Rob Gier, Jason de Jong, Roel Gener, Chieffy Caligdong, Ian Araneta and brothers Phil and James Younghusband.
Jonnson has been moved to central midfield from leftback, with Gener taking his place in the back four. Caligdong hasn’t started since the 1-1 draw against Singapore in the Suzuki Cup.
The Azkals have gone on three matches without scoring goals, but expectations are high that the drought will end early in the match. Phil Younghusband has vowed to score two goals, while Araneta expects to bag one for the Azkals.
“It’s important that we become aggressive in the first 15 minutes and find our rhythm,” said Borromeo.
The Mongolians, called the Blue Wolves, also vowed to fight for a victory.
“The Philippines is strong, but we want to win as well in their homefield,” said Mongolian head coach Erdenebat Sandagdorj through an interpreter.
Skipper Lumbengarav Donorov, who scored twice in the East Asian Football Championships two years ago, will lead the squad along with Garidmagnai Bayasgalan, a big left-footed defender.
Mongolia has not played a match in two years, its last ending in a 2-0 win over Macau.
source: Inquirer
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