Friendly : Thailand to play Philippines on November 10 !

Thailand is scheduled to play Philippines in a friendly on November 10 reporting goal.com

link in Thai

fifa.com confirm friendly in Nakhon Ratchasima : fifa

Ceres takes UFL Group A top spot with win over Green Archers

Jaelle Nevin Reyes

MANILA, Philippines - Ceres La Salle FC took the number one spot in Group A amid the forthcoming end of the group stage of the United Football League (UFL) FA League Cup after brushing away Green Archers United FC, 3-0, at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium (RMFS) on Tuesday, October 21.

The newly promoted division one team proved that they are hungry to bring home the inaugural FA League Cup plum with an unblemished record with just a game remaining in their tour of duty in the tournament.

Ceres came hot out of the gates sending shot after shot to the defense of the Archers early in the first half.

To finally open the scoring for his club, Jin Ho Kim tipped in a striking header off a pass from teammate Orman Okunaiya in the 20th minute of the match to take the lead for his squad.

Answering on the other side of the pitch, veteran Chieffy Caligdong, with the help of Robert Lopez Mendy, sparked an outburst for the Green Archers but the former’s first shot at goal went above the crossbar.

As play continued, several more attacks from the Archers’ frontline came to batter the tough defense of Ceres spearheaded by Lopez Mendy and Caligdong but none came through.

Another shot found the back of the net for the dominant offense of Ceres as Adrian Gallardo capitalized on a through pass from midfield to strike his way into a goal and extend the lead of his team to 2-0.

Not long after his first raid on the defense of the Green Archers, Gallardo once again found a gap in their adversaries’ defense to give Ceres a 3-0 advantage going into the halftime break.

The exhausted offensive front of the Green Archers valiantly fought to ignite a comeback in the dying minutes of the second half but their attempts failed to connect as Ceres keeper Louie Casas went unbothered in manning his post in front of goal.

Meanwhile, Pachanga Diliman FC shook off Philippine Army FC, 3-1 to book their third victory in the tournament.

Also, Laos FC defeated the hapless Forza FC, 2-0, while Manila All-Japan FC outmatched the undermanned Dolphins United FC, 20-0, to slip their way into the quarterfinals.

The last leg of the group stage for the opening tournament in this year’s UFL season will be on Thursday, October 23 with matches between Philippine Army FC and Ceres La Salle FC, Loyola Meralco Sparks FC and Stallion FC, and the anticipated match-up of Global FC and Kaya FC. All games will be held at the RMFS. - 

Rappler.com

Azkals and UFL updates

UFL FA League Cup quarterfinals has been rescheduled for Oct 26 and 27.

Azkals will be leaving for Doha, Qatar for training camp on Oct 28 . They are playing Nepal on Oct 31 and is also scheduled to play  a club team in Qatar on Nov 3 .

UFL FA League Cup semifinals is scheduled for Nov 4 and 6 .

A possible home friendly against Malaysia is scheduled for November 8

Myanmar and Laos qualified from the qualifiers . Laos finished second and will join group A in Vietnam . Philippines will play Laos in their first match on November 22.

UFL FA League Cup - Tuesday - Results and updated standings

17:15	Manila All-Japan FC	20-0	Dolphins United FC	Emperador Stadium	Details
17:15	Forza FC	0-2	Laos FC	Rizal Memorial Stadium	Details
20:15	Ceres – La Salle FC	3-0	Green Archers United FC	Rizal Memorial Stadium	Details
20:15	Pachanga Diliman FC	3-1	Phil. Army FC	Emperador Stadium	Deta

Group A

Pos		Team	Pld	Pts
1	•	Ceres - La Salle FC	5	15
2	•	Loyola FC	5	12
3	•	Stallion FC	5	10
4	•	Pachanga Diliman FC	6	9
5	•	Green Archers United FC	6	5
6	•	Manila Jeepney FC	6	4
7	•	Phil. Army FC	5	0

Group B

Pos		Team	Pld	Pts
1	•	Global FC	5	15
2	•	Kaya FC	5	13
3	•	Laos FC	6	10
4	•	Manila All-Japan FC	6	7
5	•	Team Socceroo FC	6	7
6	•	Forza FC	6	6
7	•	Dolphins United FC	6	0

Azkals want strong finish to AFF Suzuki Cup buildup

By Cedelf P. Tupas |Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — Hoping to finally surpass its semifinal finish in the last two editions of the AFF Suzuki Cup, the Philippines is eyeing three more matches to complete its preparation for the prestigious tournament set Nov. 22 to 28 in Hanoi.

The Azkals are already slated to face Nepal on Oct. 31 in Doha.

A friendly with Malaysia has been tentatively set on Nov. 8 probably in Manila, but Azkals coach Thomas Dooley and team manager Dan Palami want one more match to wrap up the buildup.

Palami said Qatar or Bahrain may also be invited for a match with the Azkals.

“We don’t want to be complacent and think we are strong already,” said Palami after the 5-0 drubbing of Papua New Guinea last Sunday. “We’re not at the form we want to be yet.”

Dooley said he will call up four more players based abroad for the Suzuki Cup.

Jerry Lucena and Martin Steuble are expected to beef up the midfield, while Filipino-Spanish defender Alvaro Silva, who plays in Kuwait, could finally make his much anticipated debut next month.

Roland Muller is also expected to be recalled.

Azkals to play a second friendly in Qatar

Azkals will play a second friendly against a club team in Qatar on November 3.

They will be leaving for Doha on October 28 , and will also play  a international friendly on October 31 against Nepal in Doha.

UFL FA League Cup - Sunday- Updated results and standings

14:15	Laos FC	5-1	Dolphins United FC	Rizal Memorial Stadium	Details
17:15	Manila All-Japan FC	1-7	Kaya FC	Rizal Memorial Stadium	Details
20:15	Team Socceroo FC	0-2	Global FC	Rizal Memorial Stadium

Group A

Pos		Team	Pld	Pts
1	•	Ceres - La Salle FC	4	12
2	•	Loyola FC	5	12
3	•	Stallion FC	4	7
4	•	Pachanga Diliman FC	5	6
5	•	Green Archers United FC	5	5
6	•	Manila Jeepney FC	5	4
7	•	Phil. Army FC	4	0

Group B

Pos		Team	Pld	Pts
1	↑	Global FC	5	15
2	↓	Kaya FC	5	13
3	•	Laos FC	5	7
4	•	Team Socceroo FC	6	7
5	•	Manila All-Japan FC	5	5
6	•	Forza FC	5	4
7	•	Dolphins United FC	5	0

Transfer news: Former Fulham keeper Neil Etheridge keen to find new club

Former Fulham goalkeeper Neil Etheridge admits he is hoping to fix himself up with a new club as soon as possible.

Etheridge is a free agent after leaving Fulham this summer following eight years at Craven Cottage.

There has been no shortage of interest in the 24-year-old, but Etheridge has been frustrated after seeing several options come to nothing.

However, the former Chelsea youngster is determined to bounce back from the setbacks and kick-start his career.

“I spent the last two weeks training at Wolves and thought I had done enough to earn myself a chance, but in the end it wasn’t to be," said Etheridge . "But that’s football and you just have to pick yourself up and get on with it.

“Football can have a habit of kicking you when you’re down and I suppose I’ve been very fortunate in my career up to now. I think what makes you as a professional is how you react to the challenges that football presents. 

"I had been at Fulham since I was 17 and so it was always going to be hard leaving, but the manner in which so many of us were released was a bitter pill to swallow."

Having been offered a contract at Championship side Charlton in the summer, Etheridge was given the dilemma of a trial with Premier League side Queens Park Rangers only for nothing to come from the trial at Loftus Road.

“It was tough because I feel a close affinity to Charlton - It was the first club I was ever loaned to and I know a lot of the people there, so it was a great place to be training and playing," added Etheridge.

"But I also have confidence in my ability to play in a Premier League set-up. So when I was offered a trial at QPR, I seized it. 

“I knew they were changing their line-up of keepers and I had the belief that I could earn a contract. 

"I felt that I had done my best, but I’ve discovered that sometimes it doesn't matter what you do. 

"Other situations can conspire against you in the window - transfers fall through, players get injured, plans get changed. But that’s why football is such a tough career.” 

Sky Sports