RUSSIA 2018/UAE 2019 QUALIFIERS: PHILIPPINES 3-2 DPR KOREA

Manila: The Philippines advanced to the third round of qualifying for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup after beating DPR Korea 3-2 in their 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifier at Rizal Memorial Stadium on Tuesday.

The hosts finished their game either in third or fourth spot but a later 1-0 defeat of Bahrain by Uzbekistan in the other match of their group confirmed the Filipinos' third-place finish in the joint-qualifying campaign.

It took the Azkals 43 minutes to open the scoring through Misagh Bahadoran who headed home from close range following a brilliant feed from Javier Patino, but the jubilation did not last long as DPR Korea’s So Kyong-jin equalised two minutes into stoppage time of the first half.

And the Koreans did not waste much time to take over the lead as Ri Hyok-chol scored just three minutes into the second half causing the hosts to push hard for an equaliser.

They finally got it 36 minutes later as an exquisite flick from Miguel Tanton set up Manuel Ott, who drove the ball into the bottom corner.

The Philippines’ substitute Iain Ramsay was then booked by the referee on 90 minutes but that did not stop him from scoring barely a minute later when he found himself in plenty of space to drill the ball into the Koreans’ net and the home crowd went wild to celebrate their 3-2 win over the visitors.

Eight group winners will advance to the third round of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, as well as straight to the 2019 Asian Cup in United Arab Emirates, along with the four best runners-up.

The other four runners-up will progress to the third round of qualifying for the Asian Cup, along with all the third-placed teams and the four best fourth-placed teams.

source : afc.com

Blitz goals help Azkals shock North Koreans

By: Cedelf P. Tupas

Playing with style and substance, the Philippines delivered a performance for the ages to topple a nation that played in the World Cup just six years ago.

Complimenting their hard-nosed, no-nonsense defending with a flair rarely seen on their attack, the Azkals scored two goals in the last 10 minutes to stun North Korea, 3-2, Tuesday night in their Asian Cup and World Cup Qualifying clash at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Iain Ramsay rifled home the winner in the 90th minute after Manny Ott and Misagh Bahadoran found the back of the net, while Neil Etheridge once again sparkled on goal as the Azkals scored their third victory to finish with 10 points in the competition.

“We didn’t want to lose,” said coach Thomas Dooley.

“Not at home and not on Juani’s (Guirado) final game,” said Dooley referring to Guirado’s farewell match after the skipper announced his retirement last Monday.

The Azkals will miss out on the World Cup after a poor run of results, but their fine play in the last two matches should make them a strong contender to reach the 24-nation Asian Cup in 2019. As it stands, the Azkals are third behind Uzbekistan and North Korea in the group. Only the top team is assured of reaching the next round of World Cup Qualifying.

True to their word, the Azkals showed plenty of fight and flair when their backs were against the wall. Going down 1-2 three minutes into the second half, the hosts carved out one chance after another until they were finally rewarded with late strikes from Ott and Ramsay.

Bahadoran opened the scoring with a header from point-blank range in the 43rd minute, pouncing on Javier Patino’s saved effort.

The lead lasted just three minutes as So Kyong-jin’s volley from just inside the box found the bottom corner, beating Etheridge, who had earlier denied So from close-range.

The Azkals heroically defended a set piece in the 48th minute, but North Korea’s persistence paid off as Ri Hyok-chol gave the visitors the lead with a shot at the far post after a save from Etheridge and a goal line clearance from Amani Aguinaldo.

But the Azkals played with confidence on the ball even as the North Koreans took their foot off the pedal. Dooley introduced Ramsay to add speed on the wings, while James Younghusband also returned to the side, replacing Bahadoran.

Ott almost equalized in the 57th minute after a flowing move sent him through on goal. But the Ceres midfielder could only send his effort wide.

Patino proved dangerous for the entire match with his hold-up play and his linkup with Bahadoran and newcomer Miguel Tanton.

In an enthralling sequence, Younghusband won the ball at midfield for Patino who released Tanton. Seeing Ott’s run, Tanton laid it off for the midfielder to fire first time into the bottom corner sending the crowd into delirium.

The Azkals grew in confidence after scoring the equalizer. Patino again was the creator, showing strength to hold up the play and wait for an unmarked Ramsay to arrive inside the box. Composed and clinical, Ramsay smashed the ball home for the winner.

“I like the outcome of the game and the words written on our shirts: We Believe,” said Dooley. “That was the main thing before the game that we can believe in ourselves that we can football against teams at this level.”

Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/209834/blitz-goals-help-azkals-shock-north-koreans#ixzz44Kcvjuwi

FIFA World Cup qualifier Uzbekistan 1-0 Philippines

FIFA World Cup qualifier Uzbekistan vs Philippines

Thursday 24. March

Match time : 19.00 Uzbekistan , 21.00 Philippines

Stadium : Bunyodkor, Tashkent

Tv : ABS CBN Sports & Action
Twitter : https://twitter.com/filipinofootbal

Livestream link :  http://www.weglobalfootball.com/2016/03/22/world-cup-qualifying-live-streams-march-2016/

https://streamwoop.com/watch/live-stream-Uzbekistan---Philippines-soccer/?utm_source=search





Azkals XI : Etheridge (GK), Sato, Rota, Juani (C), Amani, Steuble, Woodland, Porteria, Ramsay, Reichelt, Patino

10 mins OJ Porteria Red card
Martin Steuble yellow caed
0-0 HT
59 mins 1-0 Uzbekistan
Ramsay out , Daniels in
Reichelt out , Villanueva in
Woodland out , Del Rosario in
1-0 FT

Schrock, Phil, Misagh to miss World Cup tiff vs Uzbekistan

By: Cedelf P. Tupas

FACING powerhouse Uzbekistan in its own stadium is a tough proposition as it is, but going to battle without some of your squad’s top players makes the task doubly difficult.

The Azkals left for Tashkent Saturday night without stars Stephan Schrock and Phil Younghusband who will both sit out the World Cup Qualifying match on March 24 due to injuries.

Younghusband, the country’s top international scorer, has yet to play for his club, Loyola Meralco, this year due to a knee problem while Schrock failed to make the trip after struggling with a leg injury during a recent AFC Cup game in Bangladesh.

The absence of the two players has left a huge void on the Azkals attack which will already miss the suspended winger Misagh Bahadoran.

Manny Ott, who has made the central midfield position as his own under coach Thomas Dooley, is also serving a suspension, while Rob Gier, Jerry Lucena and Paul Mulders have retired from international play.

Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, Patrick Reichelt, Iain Ramsay, Javier Patino, Daisuke Sato, Luke Woodland, Martin Steuble, Simone Rota, Amani Aguinaldo and Juani Guirado are the remaining players in the side.

“It’s going to be very difficult but we can always see this as an opportunity for other players to step up,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami.

Dooley tapped young players for his squad, including OJ Porteria, Kenshiro Daniels, OJ Clarino, Jorrel Aristorenas, Jim Ashley Flores and Dominic del Rosario.

Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/209320/schrock-phil-misagh-to-miss-world-cup-tiff-vs-uzbekistan#ixzz43TlQ9xnJ

Azkals get big boost for FIFA elims

By Olmin Leyba

MANILA, Philippines - With two morale-boosting victories and a share of the lead, the Philippine Azkals will carry more confidence not to mention the needed momentum as they pursue their dreams in the Fifa World Cup qualifiers.

“We look forward to the next games with hope that we continue to build on what we have produced so far and build on this momentum,” said Azkals team manager Dan Palami.

The Azkals, fielding what many believed is the strongest team to date, upstaged higher-ranked Bahrain last June 11 at home, 2-1, then followed it up with an impressive 2-0 shutout of Yemen Tuesday night in Qatar, to join North Korea atop the Group H table after two match days.

“We take it one game at a time but as you get the result, first against Bahrain and then against Yemen, somehow, you’ll feel that you’re a step closer to what your objectives are and you would like to believe that somehow, what we dream is achievable. So we believe,” said Palami, whose team targeted to advance to the third round of the WC qualifiers.

The Pinoy booters’ WC campaign resumes on Sept. 8 with a home outing against Uzbekistan, the top-ranked team in the group that should be aching to bounce back from a 2-4 loss to North Korea over in Pyongyang last June 16.

“We’ll play against a very strong team Uzbekistan. They lost to North Korea in North Korea and with the pressure, they will certainly come out strong and play with everything they got against the Philippines. So we have to make sure we’re ready as a team and we really hope the fans will come in droves to support the Azkals,” said Palami.

The Azkals will get together again in the last week of August to prepare for the Uzbekistan game. Palami said the Philippine Football is arranging an international friendly on Sept. 3.

philstar.com

Inspired Azkals seek win No 2 vs Yemenis

By Olmin Leyba

DOHA – On a high from their epic reversal over fancied Bahrain last week, the Philippine Azkals fight off overconfidence as they seek a followup victory against a lower-ranked rival from war-torn Yemen tonight in the Fifa World Cup qualifiers at Qatar Sports Club Stadium here.

“I think the biggest stumbling block will be ourselves. I mean, if we come into the game overconfident, we might find ourselves in trouble against a Yemeni team that might not be as tactically and technically as good as Bahrain but certainly doesn’t lack the heart to fight it out,” team manager Dan Palami said.

“But I’m quite confident if we play the same way we played against Bahrain then we stand a good chance of getting the three points,” he added.

All points lead to the Azkals enjoying the edge in the 7 p.m. encounter (12 a.m. Wednesday in Manila). 

The 137th ranked Pinoy booters, bannered by what many consider as the strongest team to date, ambushed No. 106 Bahrain, 2-1, at home. For its part, Yemen, 167th in the Fifa rankings, had little training due to armed conflict back home. The squad took a 13-hour boat ride out of Aden in difficult conditions en route to Djibouti, from where they took a five-hour flight to Qatar for their “home matches.” The Yemenis lost to North Korea, 0-1, Thursday.

“Yemen is 30 points behind us. But we were also 30 points behind Bahrain and we won against Bahrain. So I don’t see any reason why Yemen can’t do the same to us,” said coach Thomas Dooley.

“Yemen’s ranking is not necessarily an accurate reflection of the quality of the team. They have some technically very good players. We’re expecting another tough game and we’re preparing for it the way we prepared against Bahrain, as if we’re playing against Uzbekistan or everyone else. We can’t take any team lightly and there are no easy games,” defender Rob Gier said.

The Azkals will miss injured mainstays Stephan Schrock and Simone Rota while Luke Woodland is still doubtful pending clearance to switch nations for the Fifa.

“That’s a cause for other players to step up. Same thing that happened in the first game when Misagh came (for the hobbling Schrock), he performed. That should be the same tomorrow for those who will be fielded in,” said Palami.

Gier said it’s imperative to dish out a “professional performance” and sustain a high level of hard work.

“Those were the basis of our win against Bahrain. Everyone got their ground covered, they put their bodies on the line and made tackles,” he said.

The Azkals expect a good-sized crowd to rally them on, tapping the big Filipino community here.

“We know when we play in Qatar, we have great support. We always look forward to playing abroad where Filipinos are supporting us,” said Dooley.

http://www.philstar.com/sports/2015/06/16/1466509/inspired-azkals-seek-win-no-2-vs-yemenis

Azkals players missing from AFC official squad list

AFC released  Wednesday squad list for FIFA World Cup qualifier between Philippines and Bahrain.


Why are Phil Younghusband and Luke Woodland missing in the Azkals squad list ?

James Younghusband is added on the AFC squad list .



http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?view=all&id=169&type=Stage#ui-tabs-2 (click on Philippines on June 11 match)

Goalkeepers
No.	Name
1	NEIL LEONARD ETHERIDGE
15	TOMAS TRIGO
16	PATRICK DEYTO

Defenders
No.	Name
2	ROBERT JAMES GIER
3	STEPHAN PALLA
4	SIMONE ROTA
5	JUAN GUIRADO
10	JAMES JOSEPH YOUNGHUSBAND
11	SATO DAISUKE
12	AMANI MANUEL SANTOS AGUINALDO
13	DENNIS VILLANUEVA
22	KENSHIRO DANIELS

Midfields
No.	Name
7	IAIN RAMSAY
8	MANUEL OTT
9	MISAGH BAHADORAN
14	KEVIN INGRESO
19	JERRY RUBEN LUCENA
21	MARTIN STEUBLE

Forwards
No.	Name
17	STEPHAN MARKUS SCHROCK
18	PATRICK ALCALA REICHELT
20	JAVIER PATINO
23	MARK HARTMANN

If you click on Philippines on June 16 match against Yemen you will find the preliminary squad . 66 players !

Goalkeepers
No.	Name
0	FLORENCIO JR GAMBA BADELIC
0	PATRICK DEYTO
0	NEIL LEONARD ETHERIDGE
0	MULLER
0	NICHOLAS MICHAEL O'DONNELL
0	TOMAS TRIGO
0	RONILO JR VALLEZ BAYAN
0	ENRIQUE MONSERRAT
0	NATHANAEL ACE PINEDA VILLANUEVA
0	NELSON GASIC

Defenders
No.	Name
0	AMANI MANUEL SANTOS AGUINALDO
0	ARBOLEDA FITCH JOHNSON DAVIZ BARACE
0	ROBERT JAMES GIER
0	JUAN GUIRADO
0	JERRY RUBEN LUCENA
0	SIMONE ROTA
0	SATO DAISUKE
0	DENNIS VILLANUEVA
0	LUIZ ABADIA
0	JENNO AQUINO
0	MATTHEW CANGCO ASONG
0	MARK ANTHONY BALDOSANO BESANA
0	JULIAN MARIANO NODA CLARINO
0	JOHN DE CASTRO
0	JOSHUA GROMMEN
0	FRANCISCO JOSE PRIMO SANTOS
0	RICHARD TALAROC
0	ELNIE DORIMON
0	SHIRMAR FELONGCO
0	STEPHAN PALLA

Midfields
No.	Name
0	MISAGH BAHADORAN
0	KENSHIRO DANIELS
0	CURT DIZON
0	SIMON GREATWICH
0	JOHN CHRISTOPHER BULALA KANAYAMA
0	MANUEL OTT
0	PATRICK ALCALA REICHELT
0	STEPHAN MARKUS SCHROCK
0	MARTIN STEUBLE
0	JAMES JOSEPH YOUNGHUSBAND
0	PAUL MULDERS
0	CHRISTOPHER ROBERT GREATWICH
0	FRANCIS ABALUNAN
0	AUSTIN ALIANZA
0	ARNEL ABULOC AMITA
0	ALVIN ARANAS
0	JORREL ARISTORENAS
0	KARL BRONDA
0	RAINIEL DOSANO
0	JAY SHAUN BEBING SOBERANO
0	KENNEDY UZOKA
0	IAIN RAMSAY
0	KEVIN INGRESO
0	ORVILLE ORTEGA

Forwards
No.	Name
0	RUBEN DOCTORA JR.
0	DANIEL BERNAN REYES GADIA
0	MARK HARTMANN
0	JAVIER PATINO
0	JOSE ELMER PORTERIA
0	PAOLO SALENGA
0	PHILIP JAMES YOUNGHUSBAND
0	MIKE OTT
0	JASON NICOLAS MARIA DE JONG
0	PAOLO BUGAS
0	CHARLIE BEATON
0	DOMINIC DEL ROSARIO

Phil Younghusband happy with the Azkals’ chemistry

Preparation is always the key, they say.
But for the Philippine Azkals, which had only ten days to prepare for the country’s first match against Bahrain in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers, it was enough for the players to develop a deep bond, something the squad hopes will translate on the field.

“We’ve always said that ten days isn’t an ideal time. We would like to deal with it a lot longer, but considering we’ve had a short period of time to prepare, I think it’s going well,” said Phil Younghusband. “Everyone’s happy. Everyone’s excited. We haven’t had any major injuries. Every one is available.”
Younghusband even bared that the team went on to have a bowling session on Monday just to help the Azkals further develop their camaraderie off the field.

Though short in preparation, the longtime national team member is elated with the level of talent he has seen from the players which comprise the squad.
“It would’ve been nice to have another friendly or a game under our belt, but I think it’s going well. We’ve seen the things done in training, the talent we have on the field, and we feel more and more confident because we have such good players on our team,” said Younghusband.
Aside from new recruits, the Azkals also got significant boosts for the Bahrain match with the return of Neil Etheridge, Stephan Schröck, and Javier Patiño in the lineup.

“We expect to be deep. We have Javier up front and Stephan Schröck and all great players who have a lot to offer to the team and can make the difference and change the game,” said Younghusband.
Phil is also poised to take on a different role from his usual striker duties as Dooley is expected to put him on an attacking midfield position, something which Younghusband is ready to embrace.
“I expect a different role and I’m looking forward to the role I hope I can thrive on,” he said.
And Younghusband is just raring to get the win on Thursday, as he sees that a victory could set the tone for the country’s World Cup bid.
“It would mean a lot. This is the first game. We need a good start. If we get a bad result, we’re playing catch-up from now on, so we have to get a good result now. It will give us confidence going into the Yemen game and if we get two good results, that would go on and give us a good chance of doing well knowing that we still have to play Uzbekistan,” he said.
“We know how big this game is and it’s important to make the home advantage count.” CFC


Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/183840/phil-younghusband-happy-with-the-azkals-chemistry-despite-short-preparation#ixzz3cgQZoMFt

Best-assembled PH Azkals squad still an underdog to Bahrain in World Cup qualifier

From Karlo Sacamos

THE Philippines’ pursuit of global football glory takes a new turn as the Azkals open their Fifa World Cup Qualifiers campaign against Bahrain on Thursday night at the Philippine Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan.

In their first and only major tournament of the year, the reinforced Azkals target an auspicious start to an arduous journey toward the world’s showpiece event to be held in Russia in 2019. And in one of the rare times, they’re kicking it off on home soil in a 20,000-seat venue.

“We know how big this game is and it’s important to make the home advantage count,” star striker Phil Younghusband said in the pre-match conference on Wednesday. “If we get a bad result, we’re playing catch-up from now on, so we have to get a good result now.”

But the 137^th Filipino booters immediately face a familiar, favored foe in the Bahrainis, who are ranked 31 spots ahead of the Pinoys and have had their number in their encounters, the most recent a 2-1 decision in their friendly last March in the Middle East country.
“We’re the underdogs, but it will be a very interesting match,” Azkals coach Thomas Dooley admitted. “We’ll go there for the points.”
Kickoff is at 8 p.m. with the Azkals seeking a first-ever victory against Bahrain. The two nations are in Group H with Uzbekistan, North Korea, and Yemen.
The top teams from each of the eight groups, as well as the four best second-placers advance to the next round and are likewise seeded in the AFC Asian Cup.
“We’re taking this game seriously,” said Bahrain coach Sergio Batista, the former Argentina national mentor. “We’re here to achieve our goal and we’ll play to get the three points tomorrow.”
Dooley is drawing strength from having what is arguably the best squad ever assembled with the influx of overseas-based standouts in Iain Ramsey, Luke Woodland, Kevin Ingreso, and Stephan Palla, as well as the return of Stephan Schrock, Javier Patiño, and Neil Etheridge.
“We’ve seen glimpses of what players have to offer,” said Younghusband, whose brother, James, has been left off due to the abundance of talent in the squad. “We have a lot of strengths in this team.”
The Azkals, however, had little time to prepare and gain cohesion as they have only been training together since the start of the month.
“The time isn’t long enough to implement everything you want,” said Dooley, who has instituted a new 3-4-3 formation. “But so far, everything worked out the way we wanted.”

Read more at http://www.spin.ph/football/azkals/news/world-cup-qualifiers-bahrain-thomas-dooley-phil-younghusband-iain-ramsey-stephan-schrock-philippine-stadium#dKWuVMhlMOsABSLX.99

Bahrain gear up for Philippines clash

Bahrain national team yesterday concluded its training ahead of tomorrow's match against the Philippines in Manila.

The match will kick off the first round of Asian qualifiers for both Fifa World Cup 2018 and Asian Cup 2019.

The team only attended an afternoon training session yesterday as the coaching team preferred to give the players enough rest prior to tomorrow's crucial encounter.

Yesterday's training session, which were held at the University of Ateneo De Manila stadium, started with simple warm-up exercises and muscle stretches. The players later practised passing and receiving the ball. Coach Sergio Batista then split the players into two groups '“ offensive and defensive.

Meanwhile, Bahrain Football Association President Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, who is heading the national team delegation, promised to provide the players with adequate facilities to help them emerge victorious against the Philippines and earn the three points needed in their group which also includes, Uzbekistan, North Korea and Yemen.

Coach Batista will address a pre-match press conference today in the conference room of Shangri-La Manila Hotel, where the team is staying.

The press conference will be followed by the coordinators' meeting at which the players' eligibility will be endorsed and the official colours of the teams will be revealed.

Source : Gulf Daily News

Azkals leave early for war vs Yemen

By Olmin Leyba

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Football Federation has arranged an early departure by the Azkals for Qatar for acclimatization as they gear up for their first away match in the Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Yemen slated June 16 at the Qatar Sports Stadium.

The Azkals will leave for Doha on June 12, just a day after kicking off their Group H bid with a home game against Bahrain at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bocaue, Bulacan.

“For the game against Yemen, I talked to the Qatar Football Association to help our team acclimatize to the weather (and get more training time),” said PFF president Nonong Araneta.

Qatar is hosting all the home games of the Yemenis due to security concerns in Yemen.

Araneta said the PFF is also setting up arrangements for the Azkals’ next two assignments on the road, against North Korea at Kim Il-Sung Stadium in Pyongyang on Oct. 8 and versus Bahrain in their return match at Bahrain National Stadium on Oct. 13.

“Since we’ll have to go to China to apply for North Korea visa, the team will hold a training camp in Beijing prior to the game against North Korea. We’ve already coordinated with the Chinese Football Association regarding this,” said the PFF chief.

Flying from Pyongyang to Bahrain for the next fixture set in a few days’ time presents a logistical problem.

“There’s no direct flight from Pyongyang to Bahrain so we’re still looking for the best flight possible. We’re concerned the players would be weary from the flight once they reach Bahrain so we’re asking if we can move the game against Bahrain to a later date,” he said.

Uzbekistan is the Azkals’ fourth opponent in Group H. The Pinoy booters are scheduled to host the Uzbeks at the PSS on Sept. 8.

The PFF and Azkals management are fielding a full-strength team in a bid to reach the third round of the double round robin, home-and-away group play. The eight group winners as well as the four best second-placers among all the groups will advance to the third round of the WCQ as well as gain outright entry to the final round of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

philstar

Official livestream link FIFA World Cup qualifiers Philippines vs Bahrain

Bahrain National team resumes training for qualifiers

Bahrain’s national football team arrived in Manila, Philippines after concluding their one week training camp in Bangkok, Thailand, held was held in preparation for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers where Bahrain were placed in Group H along with Uzbekistan, Philippines, North Korea, Yemen, and Bahrain.

Two training sessions will be held daily during the morning and evening periods starting tomorrow at the Shangri-La Hotel’s gym and University of Makati Stadium.

Bahrain will be playing their first match against the Philippines on Thursday while Doha will be hosting Yemen and North Korea’s match on the same day.

Bahrain FA website

Souped-up Azkals flash crack form in tuneup

By Cedelf P. Tupas

THE PHILIPPINE Azkals breezed past a team made up of top United Football League foreign players, 7-1, Saturday in their first and last tuneup match before their World Cup Qualifying clash against Bahrain this Thursday.

Javier Patiño scored twice, while new recruits Iain Ramsay and Kevin Ingreso and Stephan Schrock, Misagh Bahadoran and Mark Hartmann all found the back of the net at Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan.

The match provided Azkals coach Thomas Dooley a glimpse of what to expect from his players in the qualifying tournament and the highly touted recruits who did not disappoint.

Patiño showed why he’s been tipped as the answer to the Azkals’ goalscoring woes with a couple of well-taken goals, while Ramsay provided the team with pace and creativity on the flanks.

His stint in the Australian League also ensures that the Azkals have one more experienced player who is no stranger to playing before big crowds.

With Patiño now playing at the head of the attack, Dooley deployed Phil Younghusband as attacking midfielder, alongside Manny Ott and Jerry Lucena.

Newcomer Luke Woodland played at the middle of the back three, together with Simone Rota and Daisuke Sato.

Schrock has put his controversial resignation from the team last season with a similarly quality display together with Ramsay and Patiño up front.

The Azkals are still expected to have Austrian League veteran Stephan Palla for the tournament. The leftback was expected to arrive yesterday, to complete the 23-man side.

“This squad has much more quality [than in previous national teams],” said Hans Smit, the UFL coach.  “It’s probably the most complete team that we ever had.”

Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/183536/souped-up-azkals-flash-crack-form-in-tuneup#ixzz3cOyh6Zq0

FIFA World Cup qualifier Philippines vs Bahrain Ticket news

FIFA World Cup qualifier June 11 Philippines vs Bahrain.

Tickets sold : 8000 of  capacity of 20000  (June 5)

Ticketworld is selling tickets and shuttle tickets :



https://www.ticketworld.com.ph/Online/default.asp?SessionSecurity::referrer=PhilAzkalsVSBharainfromHIGHLIGHTS&doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=CE6FF9C3-5569-4F8E-A893-212722B48599&sessionlanguage=&SessionSecurity::linkName=

Tickets will also be sold at the stadium on match day June 11

Schrock happy to be back with PH Azkals

By Cedelf P. Tupas

IT’S as if he never took time off from the team.

Stephan Schrock felt at home as he wore the No. 17 jersey in training Monday with the Philippine Azkals, who started their buildup for the World Cup Qualifying clash against Bahrain on June 11.

The midfielder caught up with teammates, some of them he saw for the first time since May last year after the AFC Challenge Cup loss to Palestine in the Maldives. So excited was Schrock that he was the first player out on the pitch, doing ball work in the first training session of the team that boasts four new players.

“I’m just happy to be back,” Schrock said. “Playing for the Philippines never left my mind. It’s something that’s close to my heart.”

Schrock patched things up with coach Thomas Dooley early this year after a falling out in the wake of the Challenge Cup loss. The player said the incident is behind him now and he’s ready to help the Azkals’ campaign in a tough World Cup Qualifying group.
“I’m committed to help the team be successful,” said Schrock, who scored the country’s last goal in WCQ back in July 2011 against Kuwait.

New recruits Kevin Ingreso and Luke Woodland also trained with the team for the first time yesterday.

“It’s been a long process but I’ve been waiting for this to happen,” said the 19-year-old Woodland, who traces his roots in Talisay, Camarines Norte.

The 6-foot-1 Woodland is a defensive midfielder who was on loan at Oldham Athletic last season.

Ingreso’s father hails from Manila although he grew up in Germany where he is part of Hamburg’s youth team.

“They’ve been in the radar the past two years and it’s really great to have them over,” said skipper Rob Gier.

Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/182885/schrock-happy-to-be-back-with-ph-azkals#ixzz3bqregEKZ

‘Stronger’ Azkals set to begin WC buildup

By Cedelf P. Tupas

With the majority of the players now in Manila, the Philippine Azkals begin their buildup for the World Cup Qualifying clash against Bahrain on June 11 at Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan.

The returning Stephan Schrock, new recruits Luke Woodland and Kevin Ingreso and skipper Rob Gier arrived in Manila over the weekend while overseas-based players Jerry Lucena, Iain Ramsay, Stephan Palla and Javier Patino are expected to plane in this week.

Azkals coach Thomas Dooley will hold his first training session with the team at Rizal Memorial Stadium today.

“You’re excited to have everybody together,” Dooley told the Inquirer. “If every player can bring 100 percent and more, then I’m very confident that we can be successful. Everybody has to understand that we are in a difficult group in qualifying, so it’s a tough challenge.” Bahrain has already started its preparation over the weekend, playing Oman to a scoreless draw. The Middle East team will play Thailand in a friendly on June 5.

Azkals manager Dan Palami is confident that the team can jell in time for the clash against Bahrain. The Azkals will also fly to Qatar for the duel with Yemen on June 16.

“The first week, we will try to get better with our system and the style we want to play,” said Dooley.
The Azkals last played together in March losing to Bahrain, 1-2, in a friendly in Manama. But the arrival of several new highly regarded players as well as the return of Patino and Schrock has Dooley all pumped up.
Dooley said the new players should improve the quality in the squad.

“We have some very exciting players in the offense,” he said. “These players give us more creativity but the important thing is we need to score goals. This is something that we missed in our last games.”

Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/182819/stronger-azkals-set-to-begin-wc-buildup#ixzz3bjojOj5h

4 new faces beef up Azkals

By Cedelf P. Tupas

FOUR overseas-based players have been called up for the first time by national team coach Thomas Dooley to be part of the 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup Qualifying matches against Bahrain and Yemen next month.

Attack-minded players Iain Ramsay and Kevin Ingreso, defender Stephan Palla and midfielder Luke Woodland are the newcomers in the side unveiled by the Philippine Football Federation yesterday.

The Azkals play Bahrain on June 11 at Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan before flying to Qatar to face Yemen on June 16.

Leading scorer Phil Younghusband will still lead the line with the returning Javier Patino and Stephan Schrock while Suzuki Cup stalwarts Rob Gier, Manny Ott, Misagh Bahadoran, Amani Aguinaldo, Daisuke Sato, Mark Hartmann, Patrick Reichelt, Martin Steuble, Jerry Lucena and Simone Rota and key reserves Kenshiro Daniels and Dennis Villanueva retained their places in the squad.

Neil Etheridge looks to regain his place as a starter with Dooley omitting Roland Muller for the two games. Patrick Deyto and Tomas Trigo will be the back up goalkeepers.

Ramsay, a veteran of the Australian League, has a Filipino mother and has long been in the Azkals radar. He finally agreed to play for the country early this year.

Woodland, a midfielder, played for England at youth level and was on loan at Oldham Athletic last season while Palla is a strong prospect from the Austrian League.

Ingreso already impressed former Azkals coach Michael Weiss who wanted him for the 2011 SEA Games team before an injury prevented him from joining the team.

The Azkals begin training camp on Monday at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Read more: http://sports.inquirer.net/182287/4-new-faces-beef-up-azkals#ixzz3bAsMOkPN

Azkals Schrock, Patiño returning

By Peter Atencio

THE Philippine Azkals national football team is getting ready for the return of star midfielder Stephan Schrock and striker Javier Patiño.

The Azkals, making do with the little preparation they have, will have the two around when they start practice the first week of June.

Schrock and Patino are expected to be around, just in time for the start of the Fifa World Cup Qualifiers in the middle of next month.

“We’re waiting for our first sessions in June. We have new players. We have Schrock coming back and there’s Patino,” said Azkals coach Thomas Dooley.

The two are among the many players who still have club commitments until the end of the month.

When they arrive,  Dooley said local training camp will be organized June 1.

The late availability of players for the national squad has forced the Philippine Football Federation to scrap plans of a friendly against an available footballing neighbor.

Dooley said they are also waiting for the arrival of new acquisitions Iain Ramsay, Stephen Palla, Luke Woodland and Kevin Ingreso.

Overseas-based bets, including Jerry Lucena, are set to arrive in the first week of June. Palla is expected to arrive at a later date because the Filipino-Austrian defender is getting married on June 6.

Manila Standard Today

Misagh Bahadoran says he's up for the challenge of battling for a spot in loaded Azkals midfield

By Karlo Sacamos

MISAGH Bahadoran is embracing the challenge with the potential overload at midfield with the arrival of new players and the return of old Azkals as the Philippine men’s football team prepares for the World Cup Qualifiers starting next month.

Asked if he is concerned about losing his spot with the return of Stephan Schrock and Javier Patiño and the arrival of Iain Ramsay, the veteran Bahadoran said he will just have to raise his game to a notch higher to keep his spot.

“I like that because I like challenge. Challenge makes you work harder and go the next level,” the Filipino-Iranian winger-striker said on Friday in a press conference to drum up the maiden Megaworld Cup on May 31 at the Mckinley Hill Stadium.

The Filipino-Spanish Patiño plays striker for Henan Jianye in the Chinese Super League, while Fil-Australian winger Ramsay last played for Melbourne City in the A-League. Another Azkals recruit, Kevin Ingreso, is an attacking midfielder for fourth-tier German side VfR Neumünster.

“There are a lot of strikers and midfielders that are coming up, so they’re a very, very big help, because their backgrounds are very strong, but that would be more challenge for me to work harder,” said Bahadoran, part of the seniors squad since 2011.

“That’s why I’ve started to become more serious and more focused because I want to really have a chance to play in this kind of games.”

Fil-Austrian defender Stephen Palla and Fil-British defensive midfielder Luke Woodland are two other prized Azkals acquisitions that are expected to bolster the national team starting in the opener of the Qualifiers, against Bahrain on June 11 at the Philippine Stadium.

And that makes it tougher for Bahadoran and the rest of the local-based booters to crack the lineup.

“It’s not easy to be part of the lineup, but I will stay positive to be chosen.”

Azkals coach Thomas Dooley said he has submitted his final 23-man roster for the Qualifiers to the Philippine Football Federation, although the governing body has yet to make an announcement.

“We’ll see the decision of coach and how they (recruits) can adjust to the team,” Bahadoran said. “But I will not give up. Even though I would come in as a sub and play just five minutes, I will do my one-hundred percent.”

“It doesn’t matter who’s playing,” Bahadoran said. “It’s about the team and the win.”

Read more at http://www.spin.ph/football/azkals/news/misagh-bahadoran-challenge-threat-spot-azkals-recruits-stephan-schrock-javier-pati#LAYB0ELSL6XUFOCc.99