Philippine booters down Tajikistan, 2-1, in AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal

The Philippines advanced for the first time to the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup after edging former champion Tajikistan , 2-1, yesterday at the Halchowk Stadium in Kathmandu , Nepal.

The Philippines will join DPR Korea into the semifinal round after finishing with 6 points off to two wins in three matches. They will face the top team in group A Turkmenistan on Friday for a chance at the title.

This is the second time that the Philippines met Tajikistan . The first time was in the qualifying tournament of the second edition of the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, which was played in Iloilo City .

The Azkals fought Tajikistan to a scoreless draw but bowed out of the tournament by virtue of goal difference.

Tajikistan is ranked 145th in the world while  the Philippines is at 156th.

The embattled Angel Guirado was a factor in both goals made by the Philippines in a second half that saw the team finally getting the better of Tajikistan.

With the first half ending at 1-0 in favor of Tajikistan on a controversial goal that resulted from a corner kick and a goalmouth scramble at stoppage time of the first half, the Philippines came back out intent on dominating the game and successfully controlling  the tempo of the match right away.

With eight minutes into the second half, Guirado won the ball from a Tajikistan defender deep into the enemy area and kicked it across to Phil Younghusband at the middle of the penalty box for the goal.

In the 80th minute, Phil Younghusband returned the favor by lobbing the ball to Guirado for a header. Guirado, however, hurt himself in the process after hitting the ground badly but he went right back into the game a few minutes later.

Both teams were evenly matched as they sought to take control just as soon as the whistle was blown, signaling the start of the game.

Tajikistan started a little more aggressive than the Philippines, but the Azkals’ defense was compact and allowed little room for Tajikistan to take the upperhand.

The Philippine Azkals were coming off a 2-0 victory over India last Sunday.