Cinderella run ends for Azkals, PH wastes 1-0 lead vs Turkmenistan

KATHMANDU—The clock finally struck midnight on the Philippines’ Cinderella run in the AFC Challenge Cup after two late goals by Turkmenistan ousted the Azkals, 2-1, in the semifinals Friday at the Dashrath Stadium.

A tournament milestone for reaching the last four for the first time already under their belt, the Azkals flirted with another historic feat until they were left undone by a Turkmenistan side that relentlessly pushed forward and was rewarded by a couple of late chances that were cooly converted.

The Azkals carried a 1-0 lead—thanks to Phil Younghusband’s 25th-minute header—up until the final 10 minutes when Turkmenistan delivered through goals from Arslanmyrat Amanov and Gahryman Chon-kayev.

Amanov picked up the ball from Ray Jonsson’s chest drop and smashed it to the bottom corner of Neil Etheridge’s goal in the 80th minute, before Chonkayev dispossessed substitute Roel Gener and danced inside the box before slotting the second marker past the Filipino goalkeeper for the game-winner.

For a while, it looked like the Azkals were ready to achieve the improbable feat of making the finals for the first time.

In the end they were left to rue missed chances.

More misery for Etheridge

The match ended in more misery for Etheridge, who had played solid throughout the tournament. He was sent off by what was deemed as a cynical tackle on Chonkayev in injury time.

“This is a very disappointing exit to the tournament,” said Azkals coach Michael Weiss, whose squad will still play the third-place match against the loser of the Palestine-North Korea semifinal on Monday.

“But I think, overall, we have done much than what we thought in the beginning. We represented the Philippines in a very very good way.”

With Angel Guirado and James Younghusband unavailable due to suspension and centerback Jason Sabio nursing a knee injury, Weiss was forced to make three changes to the side that prevailed against India and Tajikistan.

The youthful midfield duo of Marwin Angeles and Jason De Jong were inserted into the starting lineup along with Misagh Bahadoran on the right flank, while Juani Guirado returned to the backline.

The Azkals needed the brilliance of Etheridge early on with a near-post save on Elman Tagayev in the ninth minute, before they grabbed a well-deserved lead.

It was a flowing move that started from Turkmenistan’s final third and expertly finished off by Younghusband, who is now the tournament’s top scorer with four goals.

Bahadoran found Mulders on the right flank and the Filipino-Dutch standout took a couple of touches, before sending an inviting cross for Younghusband to nod home, sending a group of flag-waving Filipinos in the stands in delirium.

Etheridge had to be alert in the 38th minute, denying Chonkayev’s side-footed shot with a brilliant left-foot save.

Azkals rode first-half luck

Though they were the more threatening side on the counter-attack, the Azkals also rode their luck for some stretches in the first 45 minutes.

Chonkayev, given time and space inside the area, was denied by the crossbar just three minutes after Younghusband’s opener.

The second half started with Turkmenistan on the front foot as they cooked up a couple of clear-cut chances that went begging.

On the other end, Mulders’ high pressure on the Turkmenistan defense allowed several openings, including the one offered to substitute Lexton Moy, whose stinging shot off a Jonsson pass from 10 yards was stopped by Rahmanberdi Alyhanov in the 70th minute.

“It was an even game but we had very very clear chances that we couldn’t finish,” said Weiss.

“I wish we would have been more aggressive but we have to take into consideration that three starting members who played group stage did not play today and it’s difficult on this level to compensate.”