Philippine Azkals escape Palestine to win bronze medal in AFC Challenge Cup

The Philippine Azkals capped a historical run in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup 2012 with a third-place finish after beating  Palestine, 4-3, yesterday at the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Phil Younghusband and the Guirado brothers—Angel and Juan Luis—scored goals to tow the Philippines over the Palestines.

Younghusband took his goal tally to six all in all and is three goals ahead of DPR Korea’s Pak Nam Chol for the Golden Shoe Award.

The Filipino striker scored his first two goals in their match against India. He added one against Tajikistan in the group stages and one against Turkmenistan in the semifinals. He had two in yesterday’s game.

If things go his way, it will be the first time that Younghusband will win such an award from a major international football tournament.

Younghusband scored just four minutes into the match and added another one via a penalty kick in the 24th minute.

Angel Guirado added a goal with three minutes left in the first half while Juan Luis Guirado scored the country’s last goal in the second half.

Palestine’s first goal came at the 21st minute on a nice buildup and clean finish by Abdulhamid Abuhabib from the midfield. He added another goal in the 66th minute.

Another lapse in the Philippine defense in the 78th minute allowed the Palestines to within 3-4 on a goal by Fahed Attal.

The last 13 minutes of the match saw Palestine relentlessly pushing for an extension. But they were not able to convert their chances. Philippine Army’s Eduardo Sacapano stopped Abuhabib’s own hat-trick attempt in the 81st minute.