Azkals give it one more try vs Indonesians

JAKARTA – Once again, the Philippines faces a huge task and a massive crowd when it plays powerhouse Indonesia tonight at the close of their semifinals matchup in the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup.

And once again, the Filipino booters, who have never gone this far in any international tournament, will try to score the goals that will carry them to the finals, and inject new life on the sport their country seemed to have forgotten.

Phil Younghusband, one of seven Filipino-blooded players plucked from overseas, mostly in Europe, and who have helped bring the team to where it is now, described Sunday’s showdown as “the biggest game in Philippine history.”

It should be, because never in the history of Philippine football has the country reached the semis of a tournament as tough as this one, where no other team really gave the Azkals a second look, much more the respect it has now earned.

“Some people say we’re still a fluke, but we’ve competed hard in four games (drawing against Singapore and Myanmar, and beating Vietnam, 2-0). We’re still in it. This is only like halftime. We can get another upset,” said Younghusband.

The Philippines lost the curtain-raiser last Thursday, before the Indonesian president and 70,000 rowdy fans, armed with horns, flares and baby rockets, 1-0. It was a match that could have gone either way or at least ended in a draw, scoreless or otherwise.

It was too noisy inside the Bung Karno Stadium players from both sides couldn’t hear each other one meter apart. Nothing’s about to change in tonight’s match, and it could even be a lot noisier than the previous one.

As early as Friday, Indonesian fans have formed long lines to get to the ticket booths, being there six hours before they opened at 1 p.m. There’s a full media coverage of the matchup, stories landing on the front page of the major dailies here.

A tighter security should be placed on the Philippine team because on its way to the stadium, just five minutes away from the Sultan Hotel, it looked like rowdy Indonesian fans were preventing them from getting to the venue.

Based on stats, Indonesia took five cracks at the goal, but only two of them came close, including Cristian Gonzales header over the hands of Filipino goalie Neil Etheridge. The Azkals had seven attempts, five on target.

Easily, the Filipinos could have scored at least once in that game, and things would have been easier for today’s showdown.

Expect riots in the streets if Indonesia loses this one.

Malaysia and Vietnam were disputing the other finals berth in Hanoi as of presstime. The Malaysians took the opening match, 2-0, and based on points, it should be very difficult for the defending champion Vietnamese to turn things around.

The Filipinos are no longer the whipping boys of the region.

“We proved that against Vietnam. We don’t need to be worried about anybody. We got enough in us. We can hold anybody else,” said Philippine coach Simon McMenemy.

“If the other teams were to pick an opponent in the semis they would pick us,” said the British national, who should be very happy holding the Indonesians to one goal last Thursday.

“This is the biggest games in their careers that’s why the motivation isn’t a problem,” he added.

The Philippines will rely on the Younghusbands, including James, Chris Greatwich, who’s always a threat, Ian Araneta, Ray Jonnson, Rob Gier, Anton del Rosario, Roel Gener, Jason de Jong, Aly Borromeo and Etheridge on this one.

“I think they’ll be expecting us to set the pace so they’ll be dropping back,” said Borromeo, the team skipper who carries the brunt when it comes to defense.

Contrary to Indonesian coach Alfred Reidl’s statement, Borromeo said the pressure is on the other side, in that the Indonesians looked surprised how tough the Azkals were in the field.

“There’s no pressure on us. The pressure is on them. We don’t have to prove anything. We’re already here in the semifinals. We have achieved something. It’s just up to us to spice things up tomorrow,” he said.

“We know we can win. We have the caliber to win. If we can only keep the full mental edge up to the last 20 minutes when we can start attacking, we can score two goals. No question, it’s all a mental game.”

“It hasn’t changed a thing. We need to win tomorrow,” said Etheridge.

Younghusband, Phil, it will be very important for the Philippines to score the first goal, the earlier, the better.

“One goal can change the tie,” he said.

“It will be a massive thing to get an early goal. Then probably when it comes to the last 20 to 30 minutes that’s when we have to be more aggressive,” said Younghusband.

“All the players will be utterly disappointed if we don’t qualify (to the finals) even though it’s Indonesia and they’ve won all their games. Our team still feels it can go all the way. That’s the expectation now. The expectation is so high.”

So high every player in this Philippine team wants to reach it.