HISTORIC TRIUMPH

BY BONG PEDRALVEZ
Sports

LIKE a bunch of relentless pit bulls let loose, the Philippine Azkals were all bite yesterday, whipping the Sri Lankan Red Devils 4-0 for a historic World Cup triumph before a jampacked crowd at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

The victory came on the heels of the Azkals’ 1-1 draw against the same team in Colombo last Wednesday and sent them to the next round of the World Cup qualifiers for the first time since the country began competing in the event in 1950.

Counting their 1-all standoff in Colombo last Wednesday, the Filipinos won the home-and-away series with a 5-1 aggregate to set up a second-round clash with Middle East powerhouse Kuwait, a one-time Asian Cup champion, starting July 23 in Kuwait City.

National team manager Dan Palami, who whooped it up with the players and the coaching staff, said "this victory accomplished in front of our hometown fans is truly exhilarating."

Not even a 30-minute downpour that started at kick-off could dampen the intensity of the Azkals, who fed off the energy provided by some 13,000 fans who stayed despite being drenched.

Striker Phil Younghusband, ignoring a slight right hamstring injury, knocked in a goal in each half while dynamic diminutive midfielder Chieffy Caligdong and Fil-Spanish forward Angel Guirado had a goal apiece in the lopsided match.

Caligdong started the Filipino juggernaut rolling, splitting the Sri Lankan defense in the 19th minute from 25 feet during a goalmouth scramble caroming of the left goal post and into the net. He got a big hug from German coach Michael Weiss after scoring the icebreaker.

With Caligdong, Fil-German Stephan Schrock and James Younghusband dominating the midfield, Phil saw an opening in the 43rd minute from pointblank range, although the South Korean assistant referee nullified the goal contending a foul was committed on the Filipino forward before the goal was made.

But South Korean referee Kim Sang Woo overruled his compatriot and counted the marker to the delight of the hometown fans.

Guirado, who had several near-misses in the first half, joined the scoring spree when he skipped over Sri Lankan goalie Fernando Manjula in the 50th minute and blasted in a shot from 25 feet.

The Azkals, however, were far from done.

Younghusband completed the rout 15 minutes later, scoring on a picture perfect penalty kick that hit the top of the net after midfielder Stephan Schrock was taken down inside the penalty box by a Sri Lankan defender.

The 25-year-old former Chelsea club development was relieved by Ian Araneta in the 65th minute while Caligdong was replaced by Roel Gener in the 77th when the outcome was beyond doubt.

Phil was taken to a nearby hospital after suffering stomach cramps and had to be given intravenous treatment in the dugout to prevent dehydration.

Shrock may not be available for the first leg of the Kuwait series, having been slapped his second yellow card for an automatic one-game suspension. But Palami said he would make every effort to have Schrock in Kuwait "because of his commanding presence in midfield. He would be a big loss for us if he won’t be available."

Malaya.com