AFC Challenge Cup: Philippines trounce Al Ahli of Qatar 3-1

The Philippines national football team, the Azkals, played with a compact defense and agile attack to defeat Al Ahli SC of Qatar 3-1 in a practice match today.

Bouncing back from a 3-0 defeat against Uzbekistan U23, they have shown a great improvement in just under 4-5 days. The joining of Fil-Icelandic  Ray Jonsson who plays in the Iceland football league for Grindavík. He was also a member of the U21 Iceland football team.

Phil Younghusband scored two goals, and Denis Wolf scored the other one as the Azkals gave a treat to 8,000 strong Filipino expats.

We made the right decisions, stayed disciplined and organized.

James Younghusband, Captain, Philippines

Al Ahli used 30 players with only eight of of its regulars but French coach Simondi Bernard did not take the gloss out of the Azkals’ comprehensive win.

Aided by a mistake from Al-Ammri, who gathered a backpass, Phil Younghusband opened the scoring from an indirect free kick inside the box.

Wolf completed a swift counter-attack by following up James Younghusband’s saved effort to put the Azkals, 2-nil up at halftime.

Al Ahli controlled the early exchanges in the second half, but the Azkals struck again with Roland Muller’s punt finding Younghusband, who slotted home with a composed finish in the 53rd minute.

Serginho, a Brazilian trying out for Al Ahli, pulled a goal back for the Qatari club in the 57th minute. Still, it was the Azkals who were creating the more dangerous chances on the counter with the Younghusband squandering chances after fine buildup plays.