MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Azkals is advancing to 2014 AFC Challenge Cup main tournament in Maldives after beating last year's tormentor Turkmenistan Green Men.
Phil Younghusband powered the lone goal of the match to seal Azkals victory topping Group E of the qualifying round before a tumultous crowd at Rizal Memorial Stadium Tuesday night.
Twice in their previous meetings, the Azkals suffered defeat against the Indo-Chinese including last year's fall to qualify for tournament's finals.
But Younghusband's glorious lift was cut short after being handed his second yellow card by pulling the jersey of one of the Turkmens. The first one was earned at first half after an obvious handball. He was sent-off the game at the 84th minute and will not play the Azkals next match.
Myanmar, Kyrhyztan, Afghanistan and Palestine are also advancing to the main tournament next year after topping their respective groups.
By rule of AFC, Bangladesh and Turkmenistan also earn tickets to Maldives as top second-placers of the qualifying round.
The Azkals also defeated Cambodia in their match last Sunday, 8-0, with four goals from Younghusband, two from newbie Fil-Spanish striker Javier Patino and a piece each for Stephan Schrock and Carli De Murga.
Signal to the world
A draw or even a loss not more than a seven goal deficit will also qualify the Azkals for the main tournament.
But Philippine national team head coach Hans Michael Weiss told the team to focus on winning this match against the team that twice defeated them.
"I said forget that we already qualified. We have to win this match. We have to send it as a signal to the world," he said.
True enough, the Azkals proved what was said in papers being the strongest lineup the national team has ever mustered.
Less than a minute after the referee signaled the beginning of the match, Schrock earned possession of the ball with a cross to Younghusband who fired immediately but was denied by the post.
This was followed by an attempt by Patino through a header in the second minute but went wide.
The Azkals appeared to be in the driver's seat of the match but by the end of first half, the Turkmens fired up with more decent attempts to goal.
Banking on the Azkals' fouls, the Green Men made use of penalty kicks that almost made it to the goal post.
Team captain Rob Gier and Dennis Cagara played the defensive line really well with Schrock engineering superb chances for Patino and Younghusband to goal.
At 66th, Younghusband broke the ice with a goal from Cagara and Patino driving the ball from inside the box.
The Turkmens, determined to get even, resorted to physicality verging on dirty tactics but their hope was drowned when Philippine goal keeper Roland Muller denied them after a solid attempt at the 93rd.
Scene for 2014
With former AFC Challenge Cup champions India and Tajikistan failing to qualify for main tournament, eyes are set for Philippines and Turkmenistan's heated rivalry.
Beating the tournament's favorite, Weiss and Azkals team manager Dan Palami are quick to dismiss the thought of earning the spot.
The team that will champion the Challenge Cup will earn a spot in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup to be held in Australia.
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