Philippine National Football team started their campaign with lose in the opener of AFC Challenge Cup to the reining AFC Challenge Cup North Korea in Kathmandu Nepal.
The Azkals held the 2010 FIFA World Cup veteran to a nil-nil score just before the 57th minute of the game after the North Korean captain Pak Nam Chol maneuvered his way through the goal on a header of a cross by Jong-Il Gwan. The North Koreans scored again on the 67th minute of the game after the Fullham FC second Goal Keeper Niel Etheridge had the ball slipped through him allowing Jang Kuk Chol to score.
my point :
Based on their performance , Azkals had dramatically improved since the arrival of Niel Etheridge who also provided the defensive intensity whole through out the game. Holding the World Cup Bound North Korea is already a big success for the Azkals , imagine a world class foot ball national team was just held to nil-nil before the half time?
Missing on the game was Stephen Shrock who was just about to fly to Nepal. Scrock, the Bundisliga veteran and the toughest wing defender of Azkals once joined Etheridge and Azkals will surely increase their Intensity and defense.
GodSpeed Azkals!
Next for Azkals is India o March 11 and against the former champion Tajikistan on March 13