KATHMANDU - Haharapin ng Philippine Azkals ang nagdedepensang North Korea ngayong alas-5:15 ng hapon (Manila time) para sa tsansang makapasok sa semifinal round ng 2012 AFC Challenge Cup dito sa Halchowk Stadium.
Nagsimulang manggulat ang Azkals sa 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup matapos gitlain ang bigating Vietnam patungo sa kanilang semifinals stint sa torneo.
“This is the first time that we’ve actually entered the final stage of the Challenge Cup and our target is to go to the semis. If we make it to the finals, that’s already a dream come true,” sabi ni team manager Dan Palami sa Azkals na umabante sa second round ng 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
Ang tiket para sa 2015 AFC Asian Cup finals sa Australia ang nakataya sa 2012 AFC Challenge Cup.
Kasama ng Azkals sa Group B ang 2010 World Cup finalist North Korea, 2008 titlist India at 2006 kings Tajikistan.
“North Korea is a very strong team and we have to play defensively; well organized and play fast defense to offense football,” wika ni Azkals coach Michael Weiss.
Ito ang unang pagkakataon na lalabanan ng Azkals ang North Korea.
“We’ve never faced North Korea before because we’ve never got past the elims stages before in tourneys. Good to know that we have leveled up,” sabi ni Palami.