Azkals look for 3-0 win over India to survive

KATHMANDU – Pressed to the wall following their 0-2 loss to powerhouse North Korea, Philippine Azkals coach Michael Weiss wants to unleash a pack of attack dogs today against former champion India as they try to keep their semis bid going in the AFC Challenge Cup at the Dashrath Stadium here.

“We have to play more offensive against India, risk more because we have to win the match in order to succeed to progress to next round and that will be the main focus,” Weiss said after the team’s practice session yesterday.

The Azkals debuted in the AFC Challenge Cup – a competition among emerging football nations in the continent – with a setback to the defending champions Chollima, and would need the full three points against India to stay alive.

The 2008 titlists Blue Tigers carry the same objective in the 5 p.m. (7:15 p.m. in Manila) showdown at Nepal’s biggest stadium in Tripureshwor, having absorbed a similar 0-2 loss to Tajikistan in their first outing.

Despite failing to topple 2010 World Cup finalist North Korea, Weiss believes a first-ever trip to the Last-4 remains a possibility.

“We’re not here to just study; we want to win something. With a little bit luck tomorrow (Sunday) and a little more confidence offensively, (we have a chance against India),” said Weiss.

The German mentor and Azkals team manager Dan Palami draw optimism from what they felt was a rather satisfactory performance put up by the Azkals against North Korea, a side most expected to steamroll them.

“For a while, we’re able to hold them off until some critical defensive lapses allowed them to score the two goals. We’re looking forward to redeem ourselves against an opponent which is almost the same level as we are (India),” said Palami.

The Philippines and India met in the Challenge Cup before in 2006, the duel ending in a 1-1 standoff.

“It would be very interesting and I’m sure we’ll be able to hatch a gameplan against India,” Palami added.

The Blue Tigers, ranked two rungs lower than the 156th-ranked Azkals, will be bannered by Sunil Chetri, the side’s leading scorer with 33 goals in 55 caps, taking the lead role after the retirement of 2008 Challenge Cup MVP Baichung Bhutia this year. But their ace striker is coming off an ankle injury and is supported by a relatively young crew, according to coach Savio Medeira.

“We’re mostly juniors, that’s why they’re a little bit inexperienced but they will be better in the future. As for Sunil, he’s playing his first competitive (tourney) in almost a month, it’s difficult to come back but he’s much much better now. Hope he has a good game tomorrow (Sunday),” said Medeira, who steered India to the South Asian title last year and in a 0-4 loss to FC Bayern Munich last January.

He sees the Azkals as one pesky opponent, based on their game against North Korea.

“They’re good at pressuring, they don’t allow opponents to receive the ball easily, and they fight for every ball,” Medeira said.

Fil-Dutch midfielder Jason de Jong, meanwhile, arrived last night to reinforce the Azkals. De Jong missed the first match as he underwent trials in Scotland.

“It will be difficult for de Jong to play one day after arrival. Maybe for last part of the match against India, if it’s necessary. If we don’t need him, we’ll preserve him more for Tajikistan (on Tuesday) and then for semifinals,” said Weiss.

An added personnel could be crucial for Phl as four Azkals were issued yellow cards in the North Korea match – James Younghusband, Angel Guirado, Lexton Moy, and Neil Etheridge – and there’s no telling if they’d get booked again and possibly miss the Tajikistan outing.

In the other Group B fixture, Tajikistan and North Korea tangle over at the smaller Halchowk Stadium with the winner virtually securing a trip to the semifinals.