Peace Cup now a two-day meet

MANILA, Philippines - The format and schedule for the four-nation Phl Peace Cup have been revised  in compliance with the International Football Federation’s new regulations on a “two-match per international window.”

In an advisory from the Philippine Football Federation posted on the website of TicketWorld yesterday, it was announced that instead of a three-day round-robin tournament as initially set, the Peace Cup will now be a two-day affair with the short elims on Sept. 3 and succeeding the medal matches on Sept. 6, still at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

On Sept. 3, Asian Cup-bound Palestine will take on Myanmar at 4 p.m. while the defending champion Philippine Azkals will battle Chinese Taipei at 7 p.m. Winners proceed to the gold medal match while losers slug it out for third place three days later.

“Due to Fifa Advisory received on Aug. 28, all participating teams are expected to comply with the new regulations on ‘two-match per international window.’ The PFF has thus revised the competition format to allot a maximum of two matches per representative team during the period Sept. 1-9, 2014,” the announcement said.

According to PFF, tickets bought for Sept. 9 will be “refunded or exchanged for tickets (same category) for matches on either Sept. 3 or Sept. 6.” TicketWorld, it added “has been advised to effect the refund or exchange.”

The revision meant one less match for the Azkals during the Fifa dates for the month of September. It also threw a wrench on the guaranteed grudge match between the Azkals and Palestine, their conqueror in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup last May, unless they both advance to the Sept. 6 finals or drop to the bronze medal match.