Asian Cup vets, youngsters banner PH Azkals 23-man squad

By: Cedelf P. Tupas 

A handful of Asian Cup veterans and a slew of returning standouts make up the core of the Philippines’ 23-man squad that will take on Syria on Thursday at the start of World Cup Qualifying at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

Captain Stephan Schrock of Philippines Football League champion Ceres Negros will lead the Azkals as they begin their quest for a place in football’s showpiece event in 2022 in Qatar.

Players who saw action in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates early this year form the majority of the squad of coach Scott Cooper.

They include Schrock, Javier Patiño, Patrick Reichelt, Daisuke Sato, Amani Aguinaldo, Alvaro Silva, Manny Ott, Mike Ott, Patrick Strauss, Kevin Ingreso, Mike Ott, Carlie De Murga, Michael Fakesgaard and Kevin Hansen.

Putting emphasis on the players’ current form, Cooper also recalled several standouts who were left out in the past few tournaments and training camps.

Defender Martin Steuble, who missed out on a spot in the Asian Cup, but has made an impact for Port FC in the Thai Premier League, earned another selection. Thailand-based Mark Hartmann, Marco Casambre and Angel Guirado were also recalled, along with Ceres players Sean Kane and OJ Porteria.

Goalkeeper Patrick Deyto, who has impressed at Suphanburi even after a hand surgery sidelined him early this year, is also back in the squad. Out due to injury in the two previous camps in Thailand and China, Manny Ott also made the grade.

But the most intriguing names in the list are teenagers Justin Baas and Yrik Galantes, who are based in the Netherlands and Scotland, respectively.

Baas is a 19-year-old centerback currently attached with AZ Alkmaar’s Under-21 side, while Galantes is a promising attacking midfielder loaned by Scottish side Hibernian to Gala Fairydean Rovers.

https://sports.inquirer.net/363712/asian-cup-vets-youngsters-banner-ph-azkals-23-man-squad?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1567186224

BUSMEN CALLED UP FOR SEPTEMBER LEG OF FIFA WCQ

Four players Ceres-Negros Football Club were called up to the Philippine National Team to participate in the September leg of the joint qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 Asian Cup.

Carli De Murga, Mike Ott, OJ Porteria, and Stephan Schrock will be in Bacolod for the first matchday against Syria on September 5 and on September 10 in Dededo when they play away in Guam.

They will also be joined by former Busmen in Alvaro Silva, Amani Aguinaldo, Martin Steuble, and Patrick Reichelt in the FIFA International break.

The second round of qualification will last until June 2020 which will see the Philippine Azkals play against other teams in Group B such as the top ranked China and the dangerous Maldives.

Kickoff for the September 5 match in Panaad is set at 730pm with tickets available at SM Tickets branches nationwide

http://ceresfootball.com/busmen-called-up-for-september-leg-of-fifa-wcq/

CERES-NEGROS DRUBS GLOBAL CEBU 13-0

Defending champions Ceres-Negros FC romped to a 13-0 victory over Global Cebu last August 28 at the Aboitiz Pitch in Lipa Batangas. Bienvenido Maranon topscored with four goals, followed by hat tricks from Mike Ott and Robert Lopez Mendy, and goals from Stephan Schrock, Takashi Odawara, and James Younghusband.

The hosts had the first crack on goal when Paolo Salenga picked up a deflected header inside the box forcing Roland Muller to make a fine stop in the 5th minute. Schrock had first dibs for Ceres-Negros just a minute later but his long distance effort was saved by Jun Tripulca.

Salenga was at it again minutes later after connecting with a long distance free kick but the ball went wide. Schrock would later on send a dangerous long ball in the box but was saved by the keeper.

It was in the 20th minute when the ice was broken after a ball intended for Lopez Mendy skipped past to Maranon in the far post for the easy opening goal. Lopez Mendy and OJ Porteria had good chances in front but their shots were off target.

Stephan Schrock made it two after five minutes when he redirected an Ott cross to the top corner. Global Cebu picked up defensively after the concessions with blocks of Ceres-Negros’ attacks.

Ceres-Negros found the thirs after Lopez Mendy drove in a cross from Dylan De Bruycker. Ott joined the scoring in the 40th minute after he waltzed into the box after a Schrock through ball before he placed it to the inside of the post and in.

Global almost had theor own in the 42nd with Salenga but his well worked shot went straight to Muller. A brillian team press saw Mike Ott score his second after an assist from Mendy was initiated by the fine play of Maranon and company on the press on the 45th minute.

The busmen continued their fine play in the second half after Takashi Odawara headed in a pinpoint corner kick from Stephan Schrock to make it six.

Substitute Jorrel Aristorenas forced Muller to a punch while a give-and-go between Lopez Mendy and Schrock forced Tripulca into a full stretch in the 53rd minute.

OJ Porteria’s cross bounced off Ott and rolled towards an open Lopez Mendy who tapped in his second. Maranon would also complete his brace in the 59th after a header inside the box.

Mike Ott was in the right place at the right time in the 65th when Porteria’s attempt bounced off the face of the post and towards Ott who slammed in his hat trick. He almost made it four moments later but his attempt from inside the box was wide.

Consecutive goals from the Busmen came in the 80th minute after Lopez Mendy headed in a hat trick and assisted Maranon for his own sombrero moments later.

Lopez Mendy added another assist in the bag after releasing substitute James Younghusband on the second post. Younghusband, who almost lost the ball, recovered well in the goal line before crossing the ball for his debut Ceres goal.

Maranon stepped up for a penalty, after being fouled in the box, and scored his fourth goal to score his 23rd goal in the league and complete the 13-0 demolition of Global Cebu.

“We just focus every game,” said Man of the match Mike Ott. We want to go in and prepare ourselves and do our best and thats what I think everyone did today. Everybody wanted to play, have fun, work hard, and thats the result, Ott added.

The Busmen regained their six point lead on top of the table with nine games left in the league season. They will next play the Philippine Air Force on September 14 after the FIFA International break.

http://ceresfootball.com/ceres-negros-drubs-global-cebu-13-0/

Mendiola holds Stallion Laguna to goalless draw

By Ivan Saldajeno

BINAN--Despite missing out on a few great chances to score, Mendiola still did enough to keep Stallion Laguna at bay in a stunning goalless draw in their PFL clash at the Binan Football Stadium on Wednesday night.

Despite Stallion Laguna being the aggressor for almost the entire match, the home side failed to find the target.

In fact, it was Mendiola which had huge chances, especially in the second half, when Alen Angeles found himself with only Pepito Hayeson, who started at goalkeeper for the injured Nelson Gasic, to beat only to send his shot over the bar.

Mendiola enters the FIFA international break with 11 points after 14 matches, somehow strengthening its hold of the fifth spot.

Stallion Laguna, on the other hand, failed to reclaim solo third place from idle Green Archers United, and instead, both sides are now tied on 22 points with the latter slightly ahead on goal difference ahead of their showdown on Saturday night at the Aboitiz Pitch in Lipa.

https://www.dugout.ph/mendiola-holds-stallion-laguna

PFL Wednesday

Kevin Ray Mendoza ready for FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

Fil-Danish GK Kevin Ray Mendoza got a call-up for Azkals World Cup Qualifiers in September .

This is the second Fil-Danish GK in the squad . Michael Falkesgaard is also confirmed in the squad.



https://hbkoge.dk/landsholdsudtagelser-flytter-to-kampe/

WOMEN: Yee Oo leads Myanmar to third spot

CHONBURI (27 August 2019) – A fabulous opening goal from top striker Yee Yee Oo led Myanmar to the third spot of the AFF Women’s Championship when they sidestepped the Philippines 3-0 in the classification match that was played this afternoon at the Institute of Physical Education (IPE).

The one goal today should see the 29-year-old forward cement her place as the top striker at this year’s championship with eight goals – provided that nearest challenger Pham Hai Yen from Vietnam do not score at least three goals in their final against Vietnam later this evening.

“The heat was intense in the first half, so the players had to play it smart and not risk too much,” said Myanmar head coach Win Thu Moe. “In the second half, they stick to the plan which has been set and that allowed us to get behind the defenders with more ease.”

Coupled with the extreme heat and the competitive nature of both teams, chances were few in the first half as both teams were just looking for the opening mistakes to capitalize on.

It was not until the second half that the match came alive where in the 63rdminute, Yee Oo pounced on a loose clearance for a placing shot to beat Philippines keeper Inna Palacios for the first time on the night.

And two minutes later, Myanmar doubled their advantage with substitute Nu Nu punishing a miscommunication between Palacios and Hali Long to score.

Myanmar then made sure of their third-placed finish with Nu Nu again finding the target from close.

https://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/women-yee-oo-leads-myanmar-to-third-spot/

WOMEN: Tuyet Dung curler puts Vietnam in final

CHONBURI (25 August 2019) – A curling shot from Nguyen Thu Tuyet Dung gave Vietnam their place in the final of the AFF Women’s Championship 2019 when they beat the Philippines 2-1 in the semifinal that was played at the Institute of Physical Education (IPE) here.

It was Vietnam’s second final in three years after last making it in 2017.

“It was not easy to play against the Philippines. They defended well and even Thailand struggled against them,” said Vietnam head coach Mai Duc Chung. “At the start, we did not play well and this is one area which we need to improve. We need to settle down early.”

Both teams played it cautious at the start as Vietnam seem to be struggling to string two passes together, it was the Philippines who created the first chance in the tenth minute off Quinley Quezada that narrowly missed the target.

Vietnam were soon pushing forward and with captain Huynh Nhu missing a double chance later, a pressing Philippines’ moment down the right saw defender Tran Thi Hong Nhu’s long back pass taking a bounce before going over custodian Tran Thi Kim Thanh and into goal.

The own goal failed to rattle Vietnam as Huynh Nhu then made up for her earlier misses when she made good on a quick counter-attack from Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy in the 41st minute to score the equaliser.

The Philippines continue to struggle to get behind the Vietnam defense marshalled by Pham Thi Tuoi as the best they could muster was a rifling shot from Quezada that was forced out.

Vietnam were more brazen into the second half as they controlled the game from Hunyh Nhu distributive prowess.

She was again in the thick of the action in the 51st minute but her short pass was wasted by Thi Tuoi weak effort.

However just six minutes later. Vietnam grabbed their second of the evening and the winner with a wonderful curling shot from Tuyet Dung.

With the game fast slipping away, the Philippines tried hard to look for the equaliser but they were just unable to find their way through a stubborn Vietnam backline as the scored stayed all the way to the finish. 

“It was difficult to stop their combination play and that forced us to take a more defensive position,” said Philippines head coach Marnelli Dimzon.”But the future is good for us as we have several good players.”

https://www.aseanfootball.org/v3/women-tuyet-dung-curler-puts-vietnam-in-final/