Azkals eye third place

THE PHILIPPINE Azkals look to salvage a third place finish in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup 2012 as they go up against Palestine today at the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The Philippines will be playing without its no.1 goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, who was red carded for clipping Turkmenistan’s Gahryman Chonkayev during the stoppage-time of their heartbreaking semifinals match last Friday.
Chonkayev scored the goal that put Turkmenistan into the finals.
Playing as keeper in Etheridge’s place is the team’s no.2 goalkeeper Philippine Army’s Eduardo Sacapano.
The Philippines was just 10 minutes away from a finals ticket after Phil Younghusband’s 25th minute goal.
However, defensive lapses allowed Turkmenistan to post a come-from-behind win with a goal in the 80th by Arslanmyrat Amanov and Chonkayev six minutes later.
Despite the loss, the Philippines still made history as it entered the top four for the first time in the AFC Challenge Cup.
The Philippine Azkals is not the only one having a historical run in this year’s AFC Challenge Cup.
Palestine is also the first West Asian representative to be in the top 4.
Palestine bowed down to defending champions DPR Korea, 2-0, in their own semifinals match that followed the Philippine-Turkmenistan tussle.
Turkmenistan has a chance to avenge its 4-1 loss to the North Koreans in the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup. /CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON