By Myke Miravite
MANILA, Philippines – In coach Thomas Dooley’s first victory with the Philippine National Men’s Football Team, newcomers stole the limelight as 3 Azkals scored their first international goals in a 3-nil beating of Nepal, Friday, April 11, (Saturday morning in Manila) at the Grand Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
Mixing youngsters with veterans in the Azkals’ starting lineup, Dooley’s gamble paid off well as Curt Dizon, Martin Steuble, and Ruben Doctora netted in their respective debut goals for the Philippines, while also holding Nepal scoreless in front of a huge Filipino crowd at the Qatari capital.
The Philippines dominated the game right from the get-go as the midfield of James Younghusband, Chris Greatwich, and Steuble proved to be too strong for the Nepalese side who struggled to keep possession in the first half.
It only took 14 minutes for the Azkals to score the opening goal as Daisuke Sato dished out a precise assist off a free kick to the sneaking Dizon who evaded the keeper and punched in his first international goal.
Filipino-Swiss Steuble then doubled the Philippines’ lead as he headed in Younghusband’s cross in the 32nd for 2-nil.
After thwarting Nepal’s plays with timely tackles and hard-nosed defending, Jason de Jong, however, was shown a yellow late in the first half but the Philippines held on to their lead and entered the break with a 2-nil advantage.
The Nepalese then pushed harder in the second half as they took care of the ball better and pulled off some attacks of their own but the Azkals’ debutant keeper Nick O’Donnell did well between the sticks and kept the clean sheet until the final whistle.
The Stallion forward Doctora then put the icing on the cake in the dying moments as he danced through Nepal’s defense and put the ball into the back of the net for his first international goal for the Azkals.
The Azkals could have run away as 4-nil winners but 52nd minute substitute Phil Younghusband overcooked a last gasp effort from the edge of the box in stoppage time.
The win comes as a welcome progress for the Philippines shortly after they dropped 13 places in the latest FIFA Rankings.
The Azkals will next face Qatari side Al Ahli SC on April 14, wrapping up their Middle East camp in preparation for the upcoming AFC Challenge Cup in May. –
Rappler.com
With Balot Doctora's effort -all I can say is " Who said our homegrowns can't play in the big stage?"
ReplyDeleteYou're more likely to find those words from the same haters who always complain of half-blood "imports"
Deletebut those haters simply can't contribute anything for the philippines and they're envious of "imports"
Big stage ? A friendly with Nepal ? Seriously?
DeleteAno pa bang stage gusto mo Anonymous13 April 2014 13:01? Gusto mo Spain vs. Philippines kaagad? Bobo ka rin pala eh..
DeleteAnonymous 13:24, so you can't come up with something between Nepal and Spain ?
DeleteSouth Asia is officially the worst region in the football world, way worse than South East Asia, and Nepal is not a stronger country even in the region.
I'm not trying to discourage Doctora or any other homegrown players, but overstatement like big stage is just laughable when it's a friendly with a team like Nepal. Remember Caligdong even scored against Vietnam in 2012 Suzuki Cup.
You always belittle our team every time we have a friendly . Are you a coach with an AFC license or UEFA course ? because you seem to criticize our team much often
ReplyDeleteLimit the imports. We need the jobs. They can work as waiters in their country if they cant make the cut there
ReplyDeleteIts not a job. Improve your game so you can make the cut.
ReplyDeleteLol u naive or what? We dont want too many inter barangay imports lol only the real deal only
DeleteWhat so we can't criticize anything that is happening but have to accept everything blindly like a trained dog? Some of us have a good knowledge of how the football business works and about tactics etc. You don't have to be a coach to know these things!
ReplyDeleteAnd one things clear: if we don't develop local players, then this country won't develop any further in football. Right now we have too many imports (Dizon is one of them since he didn't learn to play football here). Chieffy, Balut and Deyto are the only examples so far of good home grown players but they have to get more to inspire young kids to play football!
So, it's clear you have no knowledge as a coach and its pure business to you but sorry your UFL will unfold because its not feasible in the long run as model for " many imports" and less homegrowns are not marketable enough for the masses that's why FIFA backed a plan for 2016 and will put a league under PFF with import limitation.
DeleteMembers of the UFL, especially for the clubs and marketing aspects, are helping build up said league. Football is business wheter you like it or not. Why else can clubs like Real buy so many players and how many locals do they have in their team? The UFL and the new League will only exist as long as money flows into it. But it won't bring football forward in any way, as long as there is no grassroots development.
DeleteNo news on the friendly with the Qatari club tonight? Will it be televised? Same time as the Nepal game?
ReplyDelete