Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Hithadhoo: Former semi-finalists the Philippines and SAFF champions Afghanistan played out a hard-fought 0-0 draw in Group B of the AFC Challenge Cup on Tuesday at Hithadhoo Stadium.
James Younghusband came the closest to breaking the deadlock as the Philippines midfielder crashed a header into the crossbar in first half stoppage time for the 2012 semi-finalists, while Afghanistan’s Mansur Faqiryar was the busier of the two goalkeepers as the 2013 SAFF Championship MVP superbly denied Daisuke Sato in the second half.
But with neither side able to find a breakthrough as Afghanistan captain Haroon Fakhrudin also headed against the crossbar in second half stoppage time, two-time runners-up Turkmenistan are the early pacesetters in Group B following their earlier 5-1 win over debutants Laos.
“The first match in any tournament is the most important. It wasn’t the most exciting match,” said Philippines coach Thomas Dooley, with his side next facing Laos on Thursday.
“We played badly in the first 15 or 20 minutes and we couldn’t connect with each other. I think the players were a bit nervous on the field. But after 15 minutes we connected with each other and in the second half we got into the game and started to play the game we wanted to play.
“We had a couple more chances than them, but I am sure they are not happy how they played and we are not happy how we played.”
Despite a one hour delay to the kick-off due to the late arrival of Afghanistan, both sides showed no ill effects with Philippines striker Stephan Schrock registering the first shot on target after 12 minutes as his free-kick was comfortably gathered by Afghanistan goalkeeper Faqiryar.
But having lost midfielder Paul Mulders before kick-off, Philippines coach Dooley was forced into another change after 21 minutes as Chris Greatwich – who was the player brought into the side at the last minute - was forced off to be replaced by Jason De Jong.
The entertaining nature of the contest continued, although chances remained at a premium as Yusef Mashriqi’s low shot from the edge of the area midway through the first half was comfortably gathered by Philippines goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.
Schrock then tried his luck from just outside the centre circle with Faqiryar off his line, but the ball eventually dropped onto the roof of the net to the relief of the backpedaling custodian.
The Philippines, though, were living dangerously at the back with several promising Afghanistan attacks halted by marginal offside calls.
But the Philippines came the closest to breaking the deadlock in first half stoppage time as Younghusband crashed a header from Martin Steuble’s corner into the crossbar with Faqiryar rooted to the spot.
The tight nature of the contest continued into the second half as De Jong flashed an effort just wide for the Philippines just after the hour mark.
Afghanistan, though, should have opened the scoring with 22 minutes remaining as Mustafa Azadzoy raced in behind the Philippines defence, but with only Etheridge to beat, the midfielder slipped while under pressure from Jerry Lucena and scuffed his effort way off target.
The Philippines then went close twice in quick succession as first Faqiryar had to be alert to palm away Schrock’s lobbed cross from under his crossbar before the Afghanistan goalkeeper recovered to make a flying save from Sato’s rising drive from the edge of the penalty area.
But Afghanistan almost snatched all three points in stoppage time as Fakhrudin saw his header hit the crossbar before Faqiryar denied Steuble seconds before the final whistle.
“It was a typical first game from both teams. In the end it is the correct result,” said interim Afghanistan coach Erich Rutemoller, who now must prepare his side to face Turkmenistan on Thursday.
“It was close, it was high speed and it was not easy especially to defend set plays from the opposition team.
“I am very pleased with the attitude, the way of fighting and running and working and tying to play football, but we lacked in finishing. Finishing is our biggest problem not only in this game and we hope we can improve that.”