Azkals bow down 4-2 in penalty after late-game equalizer January 21, 2012 Philippine national football team

Azkals, missing many of its top players, lost to South Korean Icheon Citizen Football Club 4-2 in penalty period after a roughly even match that found both teams tied at 1-1 after a late but forceful kick from a returning national teammate. The national team was playing without stars Phil and James Younghusband, Nate Burkey, Mark Hartmann and Anton Del Rosario, who had commitments with their club teams playing in the countrys United Football League. But yet another half-European player, Dennis Wolf, who plays in the German leagues, wore the national jersey for the first time. Penalty period was reached following an 89th-minute goal that tied the game after Icheons 20thminute scoreboard opener which came from Bin Tae Kwan in the first half. The game, although a friendly match, had to determine a winner but did not require a post-draw extra time that happens at the end of the 90-minute regulation time and injury minutes. As per football rules, five players from each side alternately took one-on-one penalty kicks against the opponents goalkeeper. All of Icheons first four takers managed to put one against Azkals goalie Edward Sacapao. Azkals first kicker Angel Guirado, who took the first shot after the first Korean, missed, as did Carli Demurga, the fourth kicker, leaving the Philippines in an unrecoverable 4-2 situation. Second and third kickers Emelio Chieffy Caligdong and Marvin Doctora, put their names on the penalty score sheet against Icheon goalie Sae Ha Hwang. This is the third time the Azkals, who is trying to earn experience to bring to the Asian Football Confederations Challenge Cup, lost in front of its home crowd to a foreign team in a friendly match. Earlier matches, with David Beckham-led LA Galaxy and Madrid International FC ended 5-1 and 3-1, respectively. Close match The Azkals kept roughly even possession of the ball against the Koreans, which plays in Koreas third-division K League and which actually won the football-crazy nations 2011 Challengers Cup. Both teams played attacking-oriented football, with the Koreans notably delivering quick and long through-balls that many times were called off-side by the referees Near the 20th minute, Korean forward Bin managed to quickly get past the Philippine defenders, scoring an upper left corner goal against Sacapao.

Just two minutes later, Wolf, who filled in for Younghusband in the forward position, was fouled near the box and was at first handed a penalty kick. But this became a direct free kick instead after a consultation with a second referee. During the second half, a more determined Azkals squad was pressing on to the Korean side. But it was not until the 89th minute when Marwin Angeles, who had then just relieved another player, managed to make a shot from a corner that was earlier inbounded by Misagh Bahadoran. Icheon goalkeeper Sae still managed to reach for and touch the ball, which was delivered into the upper central area, but he was too late. Angeles, a returning teammate, last wore the national uniform in 2005. A pretty even match, the Azkals had 14 shots on goal against Icheons 15, seven saves against the Koreans nine, and five corners against the K Leaguers four. Team play The match is considered one of the best games the national team offered its fans in a long while. The Azkals are seriously preparing for the 2012 Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup which, if they win, will qualify them to play in the 16-country 2015 AFC Asian Cup, whose winner in turn plays for the FIFA Confederations Cup, only one of FIFAs tournaments along with the World Cup. Before the event, national team coach Hans Michael Weiss said the team did not particularly mind losing to the Korean visitor if the game will at least help the team learn more as it plays in the Challenge Cup to be held in Nepal in March. Weiss, who has many times expressed frustration at the lack of teamwork of the Azkals, said the minor successes the national team had against the Koreans was due to them playing as a team. Weiss commented that he saw none of the face-making and bad attitude that characterized some superstars in the team, who he did not name. Following this match, the Azkals will head to the Middle East for a football camp in February. But they will also face the Malaysian national football team on February 29 at their home turf Rizal Stadium.