The Philippine Azkals defeated the Turkmenistan national football team during the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 on Saturday night, May 24, 2014 with the final score at 2-nil. With the Philippine Azkals victory in Group B of the AFC Challenge Cup, the Philippines scored a semis berth. This will be the second time that the Philippines entered the semis of the AFC Challenge Cup.
Azkals striker and former top scorer in the AFC Challenge Cup, Phil Younghusband scored the first goal for the Philippines at around 49th minutes of the game when the Azkals got a chance after the team was awarded with a free kick. Patrick Reichelt was fouled by Turkmenistan so the Azkals was awarded with a free kick.
Azkals Stephan Schrock played as a decoy while Phil Younghusband successfully kicked the ball into the net of Turkemistan’s goalkeeper and the wall defense of the Azkals opponent.
Patrick Reichelt scored the second goal for the Philippine Azkals at around 72nd minutes of the game and secured a 2-nil advantage over Turkmenistan. The Philippines will return to the Final Four of the AFC Challenge Cup 2014.
The Philippine Azkals topped the team standings of Group B, the Azkals will meet Maldives in the semifinals after the host team finished second in Group A of the AFC Challenge Cup 2014.
The Azkals withstood the Turkmen’s persistence with Roland Mueller foiling at least a couple of shots on goal, particularly the 43rd minutes penalty kick just outside the box, after one of Turkmen’s player was fouled inside the box.