KATHMANDU – Two defensive lapses in the last 10 minutes and, boom, the fairy tale was over for the Philippine Azkals.
On the brink of a historic place in the Last Dance after enjoying a 1-nil lead, the Azkals fell into a spate of miscues and yielded a pair of late goals as Turkmenistan ended their Cinderella run, 2-1, in last night’s AFC Challenge Cup semifinal here.
Amanov Arslanmyrat (80th) and Gahryman Chonkayev (86th) pounced on miscues of Azkals defenders Ray Jonsson and Roel Gener to punch in the equalizer and the game-winner in a six-minute stretch and wrest the finals berth away from a stunned Phl side.
“I must say this is a very, very disappointing loss,” said a sullen Azkals coach Michael Weiss, now looking ahead to a battle for third on Monday.
“It was an even game, many, many chances on both sides but we have very clear chances and didn’t finish the game off. We set a little bit too deep but couldn’t follow sometimes the good attacks of Turkmenistan. I wish we’re a little more aggressive,” he added.
The Azkals appeared poised to sustain their amazing run when Phil Younghusband knocked in a header off a bullet feed from Paul Mulders in the 25th and then they held off Turkmenistan for a good majority of the match.
But disaster struck from the 80th minute on, leaving the Azkals and their fans heartbroken amid the cold Himalayan weather at Dashrath Stadium.
“The 1-1 (tying goal) was very unnecessary, (Jonsson doing a) chest trap, 20 yards in front of the goal, and Ray conceded this opportunity,” lamented Weiss of the dagger goal that sent the game back to square one.
The marginal goal, he rued, was also a result of miscue on the left side.
“It would have been clear if (Gener) was facing the goal, so they intercepted (and scored). Well, it happens, one thing leads to another in a match like this.
“But I think overall, we have reached much farther than we originally thought from the beginning and I think we represented the Philippines in a very, very good way,” Weiss said.
Worse, goalkeeper Neil Etheridge was sent off for clipping a Turkmenistan midfielder Gahryman in the second minute of injury time. Defender Carli de Murga was tapped to man the goal for 10-man Phl, averting a third goal with a save.
“The tournament is not yet over for us, we’re still getting some players back for the (match for) third place and I hope we can win it,” Weiss said.
The absence of James Younghusband and Angel Guirado in the midfield due to suspension and Jason Sabio at the back due to a sprained left knee proved too much for the Azkals to overcome.
“We have to take into consideration that three starters who played the last three matches didn’t play today. It’s difficult in this level to compensate. With a full squad today (yesterday) I think we’d have a big chance and even win the match,” the German mentor said.
James Younghusband and Guirado will be back for the third place match against the loser of the other semis showdown between North Korea and Palestine, which were playing at presstime.
Etheridge, though, will be ineligible.