Azkals blank Burmese XI, reach semis

BANGKOK – You can just imagine the high the Philippine Azkals were in when Omani referee Abdul Baqi Yaqoob blew the whistle to formalize the Pinoy booters’ semis-clinching 2-0 win over Myanmar in Friday night’s 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup Group A hostilities.

Tears were shed as they hugged. Coach Michael Weiss raised his two arms in triumph. Captain Chieffy Caligdong grabbed a giant Phl flag and proudly waved it in front of some 1,000 countrymen who tried to outshout a throng of Burmese almost double their number at the Supachalasai Stadium. Players and team members formed a circle and chanted ‘Ole, Ole,’ capping their celebration with a prayer and shouting “Pilipinas.”

“Everybody was emotional because the first game was quite a downer losing to Thailand. But we recovered in the next two games, we got the six points and we’re through and look forward to whomever it is we’re meeting in the semis,” said Azkals manager Dan Palami.

The Azkals dropped a 1-2 setback to host Thailand to find themselves in must-win situation against a familiar customer, Vietnam. But as in the “Upset of 2010,” they were all over the Vietnamese again, hacking out a 1-0 verdict, via an 85th minute connection by Caligdong, that put them in a prime position going to the last game of Group A.

The victory over the Myanmar White Angels – their first after six losses and three goals since 1995 – provided the finishing touches to the emotional roller coaster ride to the Last 4.

“It feels like as if it’s the first time,” said Palami, still teeming with emotion after duplicating their historic semifinal appearance in the 2010 edition, which actually sparked the current Azkals-mania, and this time with a chance to go further into the finals.

“I’m trying to see the difference before and how it is now but this is sweet as ever – getting into the semis this time was more of a deliberate (effort). We’re actually ranked higher (now), as one of the favorites and I’m glad we lived up to it,” he added.

Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta, who felt like “walking in the clouds,” said this is a fruit of the team’s hardwork, especially the players.

“Everyone really wanted to win, up to the last minute. They didn’t slow down; even if they seemed tired, the desire to win fueled them on,” he said.

In beating the Burmese, the Azkals turned to their solid backline led by Dennis Cagara and Juani Guirado, the energetic plays of midfielders, particularly Jason de Jong, and the relentless efforts of Phil Younghusband and sub Angel Guirado up front that reaped dividends.

Two minutes after the break, Younghusband received a great long ball from de Jong, then made a nice one-two touch to set up a left-footed shot that sailed pass keeper Thia Si Thu, breaking the ice and putting the Azkals on the threshold.

Guirado, a sub for Denis Wolf, got a feed from Carli Murga, controlled it with his left knee and made a brilliant finish, putting an exclamation point to the big win.

In between, Cagara, Guirado and back-four mates Rob Gier and de Murga, covering for injured Ray Jonsson, along with keeper Ed Sacapaño, repeatedly parried the White Angels’ attacks, especially their star player Kyi Lin.

“The team was very cohesive, very strong, and in top discipline. We have now worked on good communication within the coaching staff and the players and we found the concept of how to break down teams like Myanmar and earlier Vietnam,” said Weiss.

The Azkals wound up runner-up in Group A, largely considered the “group of death,” with six points (2-0-1) behind group winner Thailand, which kept a clean slate (nine points) after a 3-1 win over Vietnam in the other game over at the Rajamangala Stadium.

Phl XI will face the topnotcher of Group B on Saturday’s first leg of a two-leg semis series, playing their first home game at the Rizal Memorial. Group B was slated to end their elims last night, over in Kuala Lumpur.

“We came out of a very, very strong group (with) tough teams like Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar, which is a very young side but challenged us very, very strongly. I’m very happy and we look forward and hopefully we can go all the way,” said Weiss.

The Azkals went through challenges throughout this campaign. They couldn’t get the release of Neil Etheridge and Roland Muller for the group stages, but found an able replacement in Sacapaño. Wolf and Demit Omphroy sustained injuries before the first game. Weiss was suspended for the Vietnam match. Patrick Reichelt broke his teeth during practice a day before the faceoff with Vietnam.

“We felt a little bit pressure under the circumstances to be in the semis. But the team mastered this pressure. It showed that maturity has come a long, long way and I think the best is yet to come for Phl football. Phl is growing very fast and looking very positively to the future and of course, Saturday’s semis match,” said Weiss.

The Azkals left for Manila yesterday and will take two to three days off before getting back to camp to gear up for the semis.