Azkals vs Mongolia AFC Challenge Cup match coverage

Welcome to philstar.com's live updates on the AFC Challenge Cup game between the Philippine Azkals and the Mongolia squad in Ulan Bator. Make sure to refresh this page regularly for updates on this highly anticipated game.

The updates are arranged from bottom to top:

- BREAKING NEWS: Azkals survive Mongolia in AFC Challenge Cup qualifier

- It's over! Mongolians win match 2-1 but Azkals win on 3-2 aggregate score!

- (91:43) Caligdong's down but picks himself up. Azkals on the way to victory

- Time is running out for Mongolia. Azkals doing good protecting the lead.

- Approaching 85-minute mark. Hang on Azkals!

- 79-minute mark. Azkals still hanging on to aggregate lead 3-2

- (71:42) Great defense by PHL's Gener. Mongolia still up 2-1

- (65:00) Mongolia's header hits crossbar. Almost a goal for the Blue Wolves. Anyone else missing Neil Etheridge?

- (61:00) Ian Araneta's attempt deflected by Mongolian keeper

- 30 minutes left in the match. Mongolia still ahead 2-1

- (55:47) Mongolia's attempt way too high. Azkals still trail 2-1

- (51:44) Another Mongolian player down. Azkals scrambling on defense

- Game enters 50-minute mark. Mongolia still up 2-1

- Second half underway

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** Some stats **

PHL                                         Mongolia

  1            Goals scored               2

  6            Shots on goal              10

  0            Yellow cards                 2

  1               Free Kicks                 5

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- First half is history. Mongolians lead the match 2-1. But Azkals still ahead on aggregate score 3-2

- (44:00) Mongolian attempt misses. Score is still 2-1 in favor of the Blue Wolves

- 5 minutes left in the first half. Mongolians still ahead 2-1

- (38:30) Mongolian attempt way above the crossbar. Mongolians ahead 2-1

- (37:20) Goal attempt by J Younghusband tackled by Mongolian

*** Aggregate score now 3-2 in favor of Azkals

- (34:00) PHL keeper fumbles on defending penalty kick. Mongolia now leads 2-1

- (32:35) Foul on PHL's Sabio. Penalty kick may be awarded to Mongolia.

- (30:00) Good job so far for Mongolian keeper who has already intercepted several attempts from PHL

- (29:40) Another Mongolian down. Mongolia having a rough day.

- 28 minutes gone. Mongolia almost nails goal.

- (26:45) Scramble for ball at Mongolia side. Score is 1-1

- (21:50) Mongolia scores goal. Great pass from player No. 8. Game even at 1-1

- Game enters 20-minute mark. Azkals still ahead 1-0

- (17:00) Chieffy Caligdong's attempt blocked by Mongolian keeper. Both teams working hard to gain ball possession

- (15:10) Mongolia's attempt way off the mark

- (14:10) Azkals playing good defense. PHL still ahead 1-0

- Just reached 10-minute mark. Azkals still lead 1-0

- (9:00) Good tackle by Anton Del Rosario, prevents Mongolia goal attempt.

- (7:10) PHL almost scores goal. Azkals showing good offense.

- (5:00) PHL leads 1-0 thanks to quick goal by J. Younghusband. Azkals continue to charge.

- (3:14) Goal by James Younghusband! That was quick!

- (1:00) Mongolia No. 6 down in pain

- Moment of silence for victims of Japan earthquake

- Teams shake hands. Game to start soon

- Both teams now on the playing field. Azkals in blue, Mongolia in red.

- Head coach Weiss: "We are the better team... We are better physically, technically."

- Azkals will miss the services of goal keeper Neil Etheridge, defender Rob Gier and center midfielder Chris Greatwich.

- Seating capacity of stadium in UIan Bator is just 2,500. The game will be played on artificial surface (the Bacolod match was played on grass).

- Team manager Dan Palami earlier said their goal is to win five straight games, starting with the victory over Mongolia in Bacolod City last month. The Azkals will take on Myanmar on March 19, and Palestine and Bangladesh until the 25th.

- This is just the second game of Hans Michael Weiss as head coach of the Azkals.

- Mongolia needs to win by a margin of at least three goals to eliminate the Azkals in the AFC Challenge Cup.

- Official tip-off is at 1 p.m. Manila time.

- Temperature in Mongolia is -10 degrees C. Azkals to come out of dugout in a few minutes to begin warmup.