Phil gains mythical 'Asian Best XI' list

MANILA, Philippines - Phil Younghusband’s solid striking in last month’s AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal has earned for the Azkals ace forward a spot in a mythical “Asian Best XI” put together by the football website Goal.Com.

Younghusband, who scored a tournament-best six goals during the Azkals’ historic drive to third place in the Challenge Cup, earned the site’s nod as top striker for March in the list of top performers from all over Asia.

“The Azkals had to be the biggest story of the AFC Challenge Cup with their run to third place, and the former top scorer for Chelsea’s youth team became a hero to his country after netting six goals and earning the tournament’s Golden Boot,” the website for international football news wrote of Younghusband.

“The 24-year-old striker had a fine tournament, including a decisive double in the win over India, as well as the opener in their semifinal defeat to Turkmenistan,” it added.

The Fil-British is in the company of high profile booters like Shinji Kagawa of Borussia Dortmund (center midfielder), Suchao Nuchnum of Buriram United (left midfielder), and Koo Ja-Cheol of Augsburg (right midfielder).

Goalkeeper Baba Malick of Lekhwiya, rightback Salem Al Dosari of Al Hilal, center-backs Alex Wilkinson of Central Coast Mariners and Mohammad Nosrati of Persepolis, left-back Hassan Ashjari of Sepahan, center midfielder Pak Nam-Chol, the Challenge Cup MVP and key player of back-to-back champion North Korea, and attacking midfielder Nam Tae-Hee of Lekhwiya, are also in.

Graham Arnold of Central Coast Mariners was named manager of the “Asian Best XI.”

Goal.com is also conducting a reader’s poll on its Asian Player of the Month and Younghusband enjoyed the lead after two days, garnering 48.51 percent of the votes at presstime. The voting ends on April 5.