Vietnam to face the Philippines in friendly match

Vietnam’s national football team will face off against the Philippines in a friendly match, which will be held in Qatar on December 31, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has announced.

The match will be Vietnam’s final warm-up game before the upcoming Asian Cup 2019 tournament that kicks off next month in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

https://english.vov.vn/sports/vietnam-to-face-the-philippines-in-friendly-match-389663.vov

Surigao City - Jan 27 Futsal tournament

https://www.facebook.com/PacificOneSurigaoWomensFootbalTeaml/photos/a.462883037508614/549853112144939/?type=3&theater

Where to watch Philippines matches at AFC Asian Cup 2019?

Where to watch Philippines matches at AFC Asian Cup 2019?

Fans who cannot make it to the stadium can rejoice as Fox Sports will be broadcasting the entire tournament.

All of Philippines’ fixtures will be available live on ESPN 5 and Aksyon TV.

The Azkals’ games will also be live streamed via ESPN 5’s YouTube channel.

LIVE updates and scores for all of Philippines’ matches will be available on FOX Sports Asia.

https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-asian-cup/1007070/afc-asian-cup-2019-philippines-schedule-matches-scores-live-stream-start-time-when-and-where-to-watch-pdf/

Philippines schedule at AFC Asian Cup 2019

Match No.	Date	Team 1	Team 2	Venue	Group	Start Time (HKT)
6	07-Jan-2019	South Korea	Philippines	Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai	C	20:00
17	11-Jan-2019	Philippines	China	Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi	C	20:00
30	16-Jan-2019	Kyrgyz Republic	Philippines	Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai	C	20:00

Ilonggo Bedic leads Azkals in AFC Asian Cup

By

 Adrian Stewart Co

MANILA – Ilonggo Jovin Bedic earned himself another national team callup as he is set to lead the 23-man Philippine Azkals in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup starting next month in United Arab Emirates.

This will be the fifth straight national men’s football stint for the Iloilo City native Bedic following his callups in the Bahrain and Oman friendly matches, Bangabandhu Cup in Bangladesh and the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup.

The Kaya Iloilo FC mainstay was also iconic in his Suzuki Cup stint when he scored the game-tying goal for the Azkals in their group stage match with Thailand that paved the way for their entry in the tournament’s semifinals round.

Also tapped by Azkals head coach Sven Goran Eriksson were Curt Dizon, Patrick Reichelt, Stephan Schrock, Mike Ott, Manny Ott, Kevin Ingreso, Paul Mulders, and Carlie de Murga from Ceres Negros.

Others in the roster are Bedic’s teammates at Kaya Iloilo in Nathaniel Ace Villanueva, Miguel Tanton and Davao San Miguel Aguilas’ Philip and James Younghusband.

There are also international players called up in Michael Falkesgaard, Stephan Palla, Alvaro Silva, Kevin Ray Hansen, Daisuke Sato, Adam Tull, Luke Woodland, John-Patrick Strauss, Javier Patino and Iain Ramsay.

The Azkals, which reached the AFC Asian Cup for the first time after topping the group stage in the qualifier, was drawn in Group C along with powerhouse squads South Korea, China and Kyrgyzstan.

“No easy group for a debutant in this competition. We will have to be in our best form, and, for this, the best preparation is needed,” Azkals team manager Dan Palami said in a statement./PN

https://www.panaynews.net/ilonggo-bedic-leads-azkals-in-afc-asian-cup/

PFF excited for 2019 across various fronts

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

LOCAL FOOTBALL scored some and got hit in the about-to-end year but all should lead to an exciting 2019, this, according to Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta.

Gracing the “The Football Connection” program on Radyo Pilipinas last week, Mr. Araneta shared that 2018 bore “positive things and not so good ones.” The PFF president nonetheless said that 2019 should be an exciting year with much to look forward to.

“There were some positive changes and not so good things that happened. Positive is our men’s team qualified for the Asian Cup for the first time and our women’s team qualified for the second round of the Olympic qualifier. There were also positive results in the age groups in women’s. Overall I would say football in the country is improving,” said Mr. Araneta.

He went on to say that futsal is also advancing especially at the grassroots level with various tournaments staged in the country.

Mr. Araneta also hailed the opening of the PFF facility in Carmona, Cavite, which is now being used by the National Collegiate Athletic Association among other leagues. The PFF president added that they are hoping to start construction of the new headquarters of the federation in the facility and doing some improvement as well from the funds they are set to receive from international football bodies like FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.

Channeling his attention to the Philippine men’s national football team which recently competed at the AFF Suzuki Cup and wound up in the semifinals after losing to eventual champion Vietnam, Mr. Araneta said the Azkals still had a good showing even as he said they will continue to try to improve all in the hopes of finally winning the tournament.

“Unfortunately we lost to the champion team in the semifinals [of the Suzuki Cup]. That was still good enough for us considering some of our players were called back to play in Europe which we understand because they have to earn a living,” he said.

“Maybe in the future we will need more of our local players which I think the coaching staff is already preparing for. We are hopeful our national team will improve,” he added.

Next stop for the Azkals is the AFC Asian Cup in January which Mr. Araneta said the team is really preparing for, including playing a friendly with Suzuki Cup champion Vietnam in Doha, Qatar, on Dec. 31.

In the Asian Cup the Philippines is bracketed in Group C along with South Korea, China and Kyrgyzstan. It begins its campaign on Jan. 7.

Mr. Araneta also spoke of the Philippines Football League which has now been rebranded as the Philippine Premier League.

He said they are bullish that the local league will pick up anew notwithstanding a number of teams having pulled out, the most recent of which was Davao Aguilas FC.

“The PFL is now known as Philippine Premier League with a new group tasked to manage and market the league. The group of (PPL commissioner] Bernie Sumayao has been involved in the Thai league and is now coming here to help the local league. We have now five teams but we are hoping to increase it to seven to eight teams,” Mr. Araneta said.

As to what happened to the PFL in just two years of running, Mr. Araneta said it was a combination of things, including expenses becoming a tough issue to overcome.

“Expenses for the clubs became an issue because we wanted to make it nationwide. But this time I think most of the games will be held here in Metro Manila unless we get sponsorship to help the clubs stage matches outside of it. The clubs already know that,” the PFF president said.

Mr. Araneta then asked for continued patience from the stakeholders, especially the fans, saying they are doing their best to really develop the sport in the country through the league.

“Be patient. We are trying to put up a professional league. And it’s no joke. We are not there for our own selfish interest and we want to help grow and develop Philippine football,” he said.

https://www.bworldonline.com/pff-excited-for-2019-across-various-fronts/?fbclid=IwAR0-_LE4UoVJ3P-zYGIYLJurwSPDzRuUwwqWfm2MUpdDbxokBFyiVvpzAik

Philippines Squad For AFC Asian Cup Announced

The Philippine Men’s National Team set their sights for the biggest tournament they will participate in to date, the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.

Facing Korea Republic, China PR, and Kyrgyz Republic, the Azkals find themselves in a challenging group with an opportunity to be one of the 16 teams to advance to the knockout stages.

Leading to the Asian Cup, the Philippines fairly impressed in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 where they finished as semifinalists for the fourth time in five outings.

In preparation for Asia’s showpiece tournament, the Philippines MNT will conduct a training camp in Doha, Qatar. The team will also have a FIFA International Friendly Match against newly crowned Suzuki Cup champions Vietnam on 31 December 2018.

The team will proceed to Dubai, United Arab Emirates on 3 January 2019 on time before the first match against Korea Republic on 7 January 2019.

Majority of the team were part of the Suzuki Cup squad. Kevin Hansen, who plays goalkeeper for Danish side AC Horsens, is the newest addition to the team. Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge will miss the tournament.

Newly signed Ceres Negros FC midfielder Miguel Tanton returns to the squad having suited up for the Philippines in the 3-2 win over DPR Korea last March 2016. Javier Patiño is also back after missing the recent Suzuki Cup with an injury.

The head coach is Sven-Goran Eriksson who will be assisted by Scott Cooper, Christopher Greatwich, and Stefano Marsella.

23 players compose the Philippines squad for the AFC Asian Cup.

Players:

1. Michael FALKESGAARD – Goalkeeper
2. Kevin Ray HANSEN – Goalkeeper
3. Nathanael Ace VILLANUEVA – Goalkeeper
4. Carlos DE MURGA – Defender
5. Stephan PALLA – Defender
6. Daisuke SATO – Defender
7. Alvaro SILVA – Defender
8. Adam TULL – Midfielder
9. Luke WOODLAND – Defender
10. Kevin INGRESO – Midfielder
11. Paul MULDERS – Midfielder
12. Manuel OTT – Midfielder
13. Mike Rigoberto OTT – Midfielder
14. Stephan SCHROCK – Midfielder – Ceres Negros FC
15. John-Patrick STRAUSS – Midfielder
16. Miguel Javier TANTON – Midfielder
17. James YOUNGHUSBAND – Midfielder
18. Jovin BEDIC – Forward
19. Curt DIZON – Forward
20. Javier PATIÑO – Forward
21. Iain RAMSAY – Forward
22. Patrick REICHELT – Forward
23. Philip YOUNGHUSBAND – Forward

http://pff.org.ph/2018/12/27/philippines-squad-for-afc-asian-cup-announced/

Green Archers United eye to join PPL

BY JEREMIAH M. SEVILLA

Green Archers United (GAU) FC is considering return to domestic top-flight football and has already signified its intention to join the Philippine Premier League (PPL) next year.

“Yes! We have always been interested in supporting top-level football in the PH… We have met with Mr. [Bernie] Sumayao re [garding] the PPL and discussed the intended changes in the league format as well as have confirmed our intent to participate,” club manager Monchu Garcia told The Manila Times in an E-mail.

Green Archers United was one of the founding members of the now defunct United Football League (UFL). The Alabang-based club played in the UFL from 2009 until the league folded up in 2016.

Garcia said that financial reasons prompted GAU not to join the succeeding top-flight tourney Philippines Football League (PFL).

“The only reason we didn’t join the PFL is that we assessed that the total cost of participation was too high for us. We stated this in our letter to PFF (Philippine Football Federation) in January 2017,” Garcia explained in his letter.

In a related development, PFF president Mariano Araneta Jr. recently said in a radio interview that heavy expenses prompted the PFL to fold up.

FC Meralco Manila and Ilocos United FC have earlier withdrawn from the league also because of financial reasons.

“We are hopeful that if the corrections are done — from the mistakes of the PFL—that this may be a successful league. However, the new PPL management and PFF need to remove their rose-colored glasses and review the ‘business case’ for PH club football to ensure that there is sustainable model for clubs to survive and thrive.”

Garcia though is taming expectations for the new league.

“It will be very difficult to bring eight good clubs into the PPL on its first year. It will take time for clubs to recover and corporate sponsors and benefactors to gain their trust and confidence back. But football is the world’s greatest sport and we are hoping that PH fans and corporations will once again support the league,” he concluded

https://www.manilatimes.net/green-archers-u-eye-to-join-ppl/488300/

Neil Etheridge: Cardiff City will only lose goalkeeper for one Asian Cup game

Cardiff City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge will only play one game at the 2019 Asian Cup before returning to the Premier League team.

The 28-year-old could have missed up to a month on duty for the Philippines.

But Philippine Football Federation president Maiano Araneta says Etheridge will only play their opener with South Korea on 7 January.

"We know the importance of Neil with Cardiff, so he'll play in the first game and go back," Araneta confirmed.

The Bluebirds will play Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on 1 January, before travelling to face Gillingham in the FA Cup third round on 5 January 5.

Neil Warnock's side then host Huddersfield Town in the league on 12 January.

That means Cardiff are only likely to be without 62-cap Etheridge for the game at Gillingham.

Warnock may even have chosen to rest his first-choice keeper, the first Filipino to play in the Premier League, for the FA Cup game as he juggles his resources with Premier League survival his chief concern.

After facing South Korea, the Philippines - managed by former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson - play China on 11 January 11 and Kyrgyzstan on 16 January in the group stage, with further games to follow if they qualify for the group stage.

The Asian Cup is held once every four years and in 2019 will run from 5 January to 1 February in the United Arab Emirates.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46649000

Stallion Laguna Tryouts in January

STALLION LAGUNA FC will be holding tryouts for the 1st team starting Jan 3-14 @ 6:30am-8:30am at the Biñan Football Stadium. If you arrive late pls do not bother the coaching staff, we will not entertain your questions during training sessions. This is our yearly tryouts and nothing else.

Requirements:
Local Players
1. Philippine Passport or NSO Birth Certificate
2. Players Resume/CV

Foreign Players
1. Letter of invitation from Stallion Management
2. Copy of current passport with Philippine Visa
3. If your visa is expired pls renew it 1st before attending tryouts

Cainta Futsal Tournament - Jan 26 and 27

PTPA- FOOTBALL CLUB - CAINTA is inviting your team to join. Reserve your team now!
Limited slots only..

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10161151164165243&set=gm.1604164506351573&type=3&theater&ifg=1

THAILAND TO HOST THREE AFF COMPETITIONS IN 2019

HANOI (14 Dec 2018) – Thailand will host three of the six Asean Football Federation (AFF) events in the new year. The FA of Thailand will organise the AFF Girls’ Under-15 Championship, AFF Boys’ Under-15 and AFF Women’s Championship between May and August next year.

All three tournaments in Thailand will be played out at the IPE Stadium in Chonburi. The AFF Girls’ Under-15 will take place rom May 10-22 while the AFF Boys’ Under 15 will run from July 22 to Aug 9. Less than a week later on Aug 16, the AFF women’s competition will kick-off, it will conclude on Aug 27.

While Thailand have three events next year, Vietnam will be the venue for two AFF events – the AFF Boys’ Under-18 and AFF Futsal Championship. The AFF Under-22 Championship, which will be first event for 2019, will be staged in Cambodia.

The six competitions are important for the teams in the Southeast Asian region as they will provide the teams with a crucial platform to test their teams out ahead of some of the continental competitions.

AFF Deputy President Maj Gen Khiev Sameth, in his opening address at this morning’s AFF 17th Council Meeting here, congratulated the winning nations in this year’s competitions. He also thanked the FA of Indonesia for hosting all the AFF events this year. “I have to once again commend the Football Association of Indonesia for all their hardwork in delivering our competitions for 2018.”

Maj Gen Khiev Sameth also congratulated AFF Suzuki Cup finalists, Vietnam and Malaysia. “With respective leaps in development, it is no surprise that we are once again congratulating Malaysia and Vietnam who will be battling it out tomorrow to e crowned the champions of football in Southeast Asia.

“The AFF Suzuki Cup is a celebration of football in the region and I would like to thank all the participating Member Associations for their contribution in making the 2018 edition of the AFF Suzuki Cup the most successful ever,” Maj Gen Khiev Sameth added.

Later, Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) President, Le Khanh Hai welcomed the AFF Council members to Hanoi. “It is an honour for the Vietnam Football Federation to welcome leaders of the Asean football family gathering for the AFF 17th Council Meeting to discuss and approve important decisions for Asean football for the coming year.”

The AFF Council Meeting was held this morning ahead of the AFF Suzuki Cup final which will take place here tomorrow night.

http://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/thailand-to-host-three-aff-competitions-in-2019/

AFF Schedule for 2019

Nos	Competition	Venue	Competing Teams	Dates
1	AFF Under-22 Championship	Cambodia	11	Feb 18 to Mar 2
2	AFF Under-15 Girls’ Championships	Thailand	10	May 10 to 22
3	AFF Under-15 Boys’ Championships	Thailand	12	July 22 to Aug 9
4	AFF Under-18 Championships	Vietnam	12	Aug 4 to 18
5	AFF Women’s Championships	Thailand	9	Aug 16 to 27
6	AFF Futsal Championships	Vietnam	8	Oct 16 to 27

PFL - Davao Aguilas withdraw from league

Kaya FC wants AFC Cup home games in Iloilo

By

 Adrian Stewart Co

MANILA – Kaya Iloilo is moving heaven and earth to bring to Iloilo City its home matches in the 2019 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup, which starts Feb. 5 next year.

They are working to have the AFC approve the Iloilo Sports Complex as venue for their home, said Paul Tolentino, general manager of the 2018 PFL Copa Paulino Alcantara champion team.

Kaya, mentored by Noel Marcaida, has been bracketed alongside tough teams in Southeast Asia – Home United of Singapore, Lao Toyota FC of Laos and an Indonesian squad.

“It’s an exciting group to be with. It’s definitely going to be a challenge but a challenge that the club and the players are excited for,” Tolentino said in an interview posted on Kaya’s website.

“The club is striving to bring matches home to Iloilo. Obviously there’s a lot of work to be done to get approval from the AFC to be able to play in front of the Iloilo home crowd, but we’re doing our best,” he added.

Kaya is one of the Philippine-based teams in the competition along with fellow Western Visayas team Ceres Negros, which was bracketed with Shan United, Becamex Bình Duong of Vietnam and an Indonesian team.

But the Negros squad still has a chance to break into the 2019 AFC Champions League group stage when it participates in the preliminary stages in February.

Should the club successfully qualify to the group stage of Asia’s elite tournament, Davao Aguilas will take over its spot in the 2019 AFC Cup./PN

https://www.panaynews.net/kaya-fc-wants-afc-cup-home-games-in-iloilo/

Cagayan de Oro City - 14 th Rosevale Football Cup

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2471881052826671&set=pcb.1585073214927369&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Bohol - Christmas League

Attention All club/team coaches or representatives. Pls come to the coaches meeting at Abby's restaurant CpG avenue in front of st. Jude hospital. Pls bring credentials and necessary documents of your team. This will be also the deadline of the early bird registration. Pls come on time. FYI

https://www.facebook.com/237860106239783/photos/a.1013943465298106/2767723419920093/?type=3&theater

REPORT: Vietnam 2 Philippines 1 (Vietnam win 4-2 on aggregate)

Hanoi: Vietnam will play Malaysia in the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup final after late goals from Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Cong Phuong helped secure a 2-1 victory over the Philippines in the second leg of the semi-final on Thursday to advance 4-2 on aggregate.

After a first half of few chances at My Dinh Stadium and a second period that was following a similar pattern, Quang Hai finally opened the scoring in the 83rd minute, before substitute Cong Phuong ended the Philippines’ hopes four minutes later. 

James Younghusband scored a consolation goal for the Philippines in the final minute but it was Vietnam who progressed to their third final and a date with the 2010 winners Malaysia next week.

The visitors began the match knowing they needed to score at least twice to have any chance of reaching the final and they gave as good as they got in the opening 15 minutes.

Vietnam finally got the crowd off their seats in the 28th minute when Doan Van Hau broke down the left, cut back and curled in a neat ball with the outside of his left foot that Quang Hai met with an acrobatic effort that was directed straight at goalkeeper Patrick Deyto.

Quang Hai was seeing more of the ball and his strike from distance soon after hit teammate Nguyen Anh Duc, before Phan Van Duc blasted his follow-up effort high and wide.

A lovely low delivery from Van Hau was then just inches away from being finished by Quang Hai, before a superb sliding clearance from Carli de Murga denied Anh Duc an easy tap-in at the back post as Vietnam took full control of the game.

The Philippines came back into the match in the last five minutes of the half, though, and Iain Ramsay fired an effort just over from fully 30 yards as the sides went in goalless.

Sven-Goran Eriksson would likely have heard plenty about the ‘Miracle of Hanoi’ in the build-up to the game, and the Swede’s half-time job was to inspire the same kind of performance that produced the famous 2-0 victory in 2010.

But the Philippines struggled to create goalscoring opportunities and as the hour came and went, the likelilhood of any kind of repeat seemed improbable.

James Younghusband replaced de Murga midway through the half as the Philippines sought extra creativity going forward, but it was Vietnam who finally broke the deadlock with seven minutes remaining.

Van Duc cut into the penalty area from the left, skipped past Amani Aguinaldo and slid the ball to Quang Hai to tap home from inside the six yard box.

And the hosts wrapped the game up just two minutes later when Cong Phuong burst into the box with intent before getting a lucky break off Adam Reed and riffling past Deyto.

The Philippines pulled one back in the last minute when James Younghusband stabbed into the net from a few yards out following Ramsay’s corner from the right but it was too little too late as Vietnam returned to their first final since winning the competition in 2008.

Pak Hang-seo’s side will travel to Kuala Lumpur’s Bukit Jalil Stadium for the first leg on December 11 before the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup champions will be crowned at My Dinh Stadium after the return meeting on December 15.

De Murga: Team spirit can take us to final

Hanoi: Undaunted by Vietnam’s 2-1 win in the first leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup semifinal, Philippines defender Carli De Murga believes the Azkals’ team spirit will be key for the visitors as they try to replicate the “Miracle in Hanoi” eight years ago in a bigger stage in the competition. 

Failing to capitalize on their home advantage last Sunday at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City, the Azkals are left with an uphill climb to overturn the hosts’ advantage in front of an expected crowd of 40,000 at My Dinh Stadium. 

De Murga knows that a finals appearance for the Azkals in the tournament will not only be historic but also trigger another wave of support for the team much like when the 2010 squad stunned Vietnam, 2-0, in the group stage. 

“It (this match) means a lot because we’ve never been to the final and we really want to be there,” said the Ceres-Negros player. 

"We know that, in the first game, we didn’t play our best and they were better that's why they won. But we’re full of confidence to make a great game and get a good result for us to play in the final for the very first time."

The Azkals’ defense looked sloppy and a stepped slower dealing with Vietnam’s strikers, particularly Nguyen Anh Duc and Phan Van Duc, who scored in each half to give the Golden Stars the advantage. 

But De Murga said they’ve worked doubly hard to address those concerns heading into the second leg, where they are hard-pressed to keep a clean sheet. 

"Sometimes, you don’t play your best game but we’re working on the field, we’re working with the coaches and my teammates,” said De Murga. "Everyone is focused. We know what we did wrong and we know how to do it tomorrow." 

While Vietnam had the luxury of taking a chartered flight back to Hanoi, the Philippines took 17 hours to reach the Vietnamese capital. But De Murga was quick to shrug off the Azkals’ travel woes, saying everyone is eager to play the match. 

"Now you can see everyone is eager to play this game,” said De Murga. “We want to win this game and play in the finals for the first time. One of the best scenarios is to do it here. We did it one time and why not the second time.”

Asked what's the Azkals’ advantage against Vietnam, De Murga was quick to reply: "The quality of our team spirit. We have a great team spirit and we’re going to show it tomorrow." 

https://www.affsuzukicup.com/2018/news/philippines/1331-de-murga-team-spirit-can-take-us-to-final

ASC2018: VIETNAM TAKE ADVANTAGE TO HANOI

BACOLOD CITY (2 Dec 2018) – Vietnam took a huge step for a place in the finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup this year when they beat the Philippines 2-1 in the first leg semifinals that was played at the Panaad Park and Stadium tonight.

The winners ten years ago scored a goal in each half as the Philippines replied in between for the final scoreline as both teams will now look forward to the return tie in four days.

“We played against a very good team. And against such an organised team, we cannot afford to concede so easily. They just got behind our backline too easily,” said Philippines head coach Sven Goran Eriksson.

“I thought that we were still in the game up until their second goal. And by then, it was already very difficult to come back.”

In the game between two physical teams, the fight was always going to be close as Philippines were all eager to find the goals while Vietnam were not as defensive as many thought they would be.

Instead it was Vietnam who matched the Philippines ball for ball as Qatar referee Abdulrahman Ibrahim Al-Jassim allowed the handful of exchanges.

With Martin Steuble coming in for the absent Daisuke Sato, the usual sting was lacking down the right although the lack of defensive urgency put the Philippines under the pressure at times.

And just 12th minutes in, Vietnam punished this lackadaisical defending with Honor Man of the Match Phan Va Duc providing the cross with the lanky Nguyen Anh Duc heading in a glancing header past an out of position Michael Falkesgaard.

The game was restricted to mostly at the centre of the park up until the last seconds of the first half.

As it turned out, striker Phil Younghusband might not have scored tonight but he turned provider with a cross that was well met by the waiting Patrick Reichelt to put both teams on level terms.

Incidentally, it was the first time that Vietnam had conceded a goal in the competition so far.

But just three minutes into the second half, the Philippines found themselves behind yet again when Van Duc beat the offside trap as hre latched on to a clever chip from Nguyen Trong Hoang.

The change for James Younghusband gave the Philippines some options but it failed to inspire the team for the second goal of the game while for Vietnam they kept to the pace alongside the introduction of the wily Nguten Cong Phuong.

Reichelt came close at the tail end of the game while substitute striker Ha Duc Chinh just lacked that extra finish to put the game beyond contention.

“It is disappointing to concede a goal but there is no such thing as a perfect game,” added Vietnam head coach Park Heng-seo afterwards.

“We were very well prepared for this game and we anticipated the Philippines attack pattern.”

http://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/asc2018-vietnam-take-advantage-to-hanoi/

AFF Suzuki Cup - Philippines 1-2 Vietnam

Livestream Philippines :


http://www.tv5.com.ph/

Livestream ASEAN :

https://www.affsuzukicup.com/2018/live-streaming

Vietnamese livestream working worldwide :


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQm0g-Urh0k

Ingreso: Everybody has to step up for Azkals

Bacolod: Philippines midfielder Kevin Ingreso believes their shorthanded side has enough quality to overcome a formidable Vietnamese team when the two teams meet in the AFF Suzuki Cup semifinals beginning with the first leg on Sunday night at Panaad Stadium.

The Azkals’ 23-man side has been reduced to 18 for the remainder of the competition after four players - Neil Etheridge, Stephan Palla, Daisuke Sato and Patrick Strauss - returned to their clubs. Luke Woodland was earlier ruled out of the competition due to an injury he suffered in the 1-0 win over Singapore. 

Ingreso who started in the 3-2 win against Timor Leste and came off the bench in the draw against Indonesia last Sunday thinks the Azkals’ depth in the squad remains as one of its strengths. 

“Obviously some players had to return to their clubs, but we have a big squad,” said Ingreso, who plays club football for Bacolod-based side Ceres-Negros. “I think its about time for the other players to get the job done. We just need everybody to step up.” 

The Germany-born midfielder insists the Azkals have sufficient preparation against the Vietnamese side that scored eight goals and has not conceded so far in the competition. He stressed the importance of getting a result in the first leg at Panaad Stadium. 

 “We’re prepared for what’s coming from Vietnam,” he said, noting the staff led by coach Sven Goran Eriksson has done its homework in setting up the team. “We’ve seen many video clips of them. I think we need a good result in the first leg especially at home.” 

Both teams will face off in the second leg four days later in Hanoi, where the Azkals recorded one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition eight years ago. Ingreso is confident he can cope with the pressure as the Azkals try to finally nail a finals spot for the first time in the Suzuki Cup. 

"I will not change anything from my game,” Ingreso said. "I know I can play. Our team has played in so many matches together and we haven’t lost for quite some time. We always encourage each to do our best on the field."

https://www.affsuzukicup.com/2018/news/philippines/1290-ingreso-everybody-has-to-step-up-for-azkals