The margin of victory equalled the AFC Cup record, first registered by Uzbekistan's Nasaf Qarshi who beat India's Dempo in a group stage tie in 2011. http://www.the-afc.com/competitions...chday-one-group-f-ceres-negros-9-0-boeung-ket
The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has appointed Mr. Reiji Hirata as Head of Youth Football Development for the next two years. Coach Hirata was nominated by the Japan Football Association (JFA) upon a request from the Philippine Football Federation. Mr. Hirata holds a JFA ‘A’ Coaching License, which is equivalent to an AFC ‘A’ Coaching License. Prior to his appointment by PFF, the 42-year-old football coach has worked closely with the Chinese Taipei Football Association (CTFA) Technical Department and served as interim head coach of the Chinese Taipei National Team as well as head coach of Chinese Taipei Boys Under-13 and Under-15 teams. Mr. Hirata is expected to help strengthen the youth football development programs in the country. In addition, Mr. Hirata will work closely with the PFF Technical Department in formulating policies for establishment and accreditation of football academies and centers of excellence as well as in the adoption of the Youth Football Training Manual. “This country has a population of 100 million with an average age of 23. People here take great care of their family, love festivals, and football has been very popular recently. This diversity is a strength that we can expand on. Working together with the PFF President Mr. Araneta and everyone involved, I will do my best to develop the youth and help football in the Philippines moving forward,” said Hirata in a statement released in the JFA website. “We thank the Japan Football Association for sending Mr. Reiji Hirata to serve as the PFF Head of Youth Development,” said PFF president Mariano Araneta. “We look forward to working with Mr. Hirata in improving the performance of the Philippine National Youth Teams and enhancing a formal youth football development plan.” pff.org.ph/2018/02/13/pff-appoints-reiji-hirata-head-youth-development/
Filipino Frenchman Alphonse Areola started today in PSG's away match against Real Madrid (like he has in most of PSG's games this season) in the UEFA Champions League, made 5 outstanding saves but ultimately gave up 3 goals to Ronaldo and Real Madrid leaving PSG with a tall mountain to climb in their home match tie against the Spanish giants. Incidentally he gave up Ronaldo's 100th goal in the Champion's League which is a league record for a player with a single team. http://www.espn.com/soccer/report?gameId=499540 He is fifth in Europe with the most clean sheets this season. but it looks like PSG are looking for a big name to complement their all star cast. http://www.espn.com/soccer/club/par...mes-may-see-goalkeeper-alphonse-areola-depart Paris Saint-Germain have regularly been linked with a new goalkeeper since the arrival of Antero Henrique as sporting director, but coach Unai Emery's first-choice between the sticks, Alphonse Areola, is the fifth in Europe with the most clean sheets this season. So, do the French giants really need a new man between the sticks? Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak, AC Milan's Gianluigi Donnarumma, Roma's Alisson and Napoli's Pepe Reina have all been mentioned as potential targets in the past but an unsuccessful move for the latter last summer is the closest to concrete action there has been. PSG already possess Areola and Kevin Trapp, not bad by most top European clubs' standards, but as last summer's moves for both Neymar and Kylian Mbappe proved, the Ligue 1 leaders are not "most top European clubs." Les Parisiens aspire to having a star name in every position and in goal it is no different -- they want a new goalkeeper but do not necessarily need one. Because of this, both Areola and Trapp have faced uphill battles from the start because neither are as heralded as the likes of Oblak or Donnarumma. Areola is a youth academy graduate and part of Les Bleus' setup, while Trapp is on the fringes of the Germany team but has never played for one of the powerhouses of the Bundesliga. Out of the four players PSG have been linked with since Henrique's arrival, only Oblak is ahead of Areola in clean sheets so far this campaign, while Donnarumma and Alisson are bottom and Reina is one shutout shy. So why are the Qatari owned financial heavyweights seemingly desperate to get rid of their homegrown starter then? It is true that Areola has not endured the smoothest of terms -- even if it is much better than last season's messy rotation with Trapp, which Emery failed miserably to handle. The 24-year-old has made mistakes, some costly, such as misjudging Nabil Fekir's early free kick in the 2-1 defeat away at Lyon in Ligue 1 earlier this year, but he has also come up big for PSG at times. It is easy to forget that until Celtic scored at Parc des Princes close to the end of the Champions League group stage, Areola was looking likely to finish the groups without conceding a goal. Bayern Munich eventually made sure that this was never going to be the case but the PSG keeper bailed his defence out at times as they were often caught out with attack-minded full backs Dani Alves and Layvin Kurzawa charging forward. Matches where Areola makes important saves often get glossed over and dismissed as reasons for him keeping his starting spot, but criticism is quick to arrive and often harsh when he does get beaten or make a mistake. Occasionally, such as in Lyon, criticism is justified but overall Areola is enjoying a good campaign and has been more or less solid. It is not like Trapp is any more reliable anyway. On Tuesday, the German was sent off late on in a 4-1 Coupe de France win away at Sochaux for barrelling out of his penalty area and failing to beat an opponent to the ball. The former Eintracht Frankfurt stopper's debut season was error-ridden and although he makes some fine reflex saves, he has been unable to cut the occasional howling gaffe out of his game. claims he rejected a move away from Parc des Princes in January to boost his World Cup chances with Germany, so it now looks unlikely that the No. 1 will be going to Russia this summer unless it is at the expense of Manuel Neuer, Marc-Andre ter Stegen or Bernd Leno. PSG supporters essentially see Areola or Trapp in goal as a lottery, fearing another costly mistake could happen at any time. That is understandable to a point but it is disheartening to see so little support for a homegrown player who has claimed a starting role from an error-prone competitor. Neither are perfect but with Areola three years Trapp's junior, he still has the potential to cut the mental lapses out of his game and add more consistency. Admittedly, he does need to become a bit more commanding at times, especially in the air, but when he is beaten it is quite often not only him who is at fault but also his defence. It seems like Areola and Trapp's struggles to truly convince are less rooted in their actual abilities and more to do with their statuses within European football and the fact there are bigger name alternatives out there. Sadly, regardless of what he might do on the pitch between now and the end of the season, it does not look as if Areola's face will fit and he may well find himself replaced this summer. A change in coach could see him given a fresh start as the damage from Emery's confidence-smashing debut season still lingers, but it seems like the goalkeeper's time is running out in Paris.
Azkals head coach Thomas Dooley to fans: ‘No Stephan Schrock call-up’ Philippine Azkals head coach Thomas Dooley was quick to refute any chance for Stephan Schrock to return to the national team ahead of the final Asian Cup qualifier game against Tajikistan on March 27, 2018 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. Giving his statements through Facebook comments on John Duerden’s opinion article posted this noon suggesting on Schrock and Dooley ironing out their differences and reuniting in the squad to boost the team’s qualification campaign, the coach finally puts the matter to rest. http://www.foxsports.ph/football/asian-football/819521/dooley-no-schrock-azkals/
FILIPINO SHOOTS FOR PREMIER LEAGUE STARDOM by John Duerden (Asia Times) "Etheridge believes his experience as a Philippine international is helping him. Called up in 2008, as one of a number of “fil-foreigns” – players with one parent from the country but born and raised overseas – Etheridge played a major role in the national team’s big breakthrough in 2010. At that year’s AFF Suzuki Cup, the “Azkals” went from their traditional role as the tournament’s whipping boys to becoming real contenders. Winning against defending champions Vietnam in front of 40,000 supporters in Hanoi, the team made it all the way to the semi-finals, where they faced Indonesia. The advance came as such a surprise to everyone in the Philippines that the country didn’t have a suitable stadium ready and both legs had to be played in Jakarta. In total, almost 200,000 attended the two games as the visitors lost out narrowly. “I was 18 in 2008 when I started playing for the national team and playing in front of 90,000 fans,” says Etheridge. “Unless you are a superstar, you don’t get that if you are a young player in the lower leagues. That experience really did help me. “[In terms of] my story that I didn’t break through as early as most people expected… There is not one route for players, especially goalkeepers. I went on loan at an early age, and didn’t start playing regular football until I was 24 or 25 and most people had written me off. There is no right or wrong way.” Interest in the Philippines around whether or not Etheridge and Cardiff can make it to England’s top flight is growing. The player understands Tagalog, the Philippines main local language, and although he is not a fluent speaker he certainly knows enough to recognize that having a Premier League star to call their own could be a real breakthrough in Southeast Asia. “I hope so. The fans in the Philippines have always been really good to me, they have supported me through everything.” Through thick and thin, some might say, but then the times could be about to get very thick indeed. " www.atimes.com/article/filipino-shoots-english-premier-league-stardom/
Cardiff City, Azkals’ keeper Etheridge get 15th clean sheet in defeat of Ipswich Town Cardiff City FC got a better grip of the 2nd place in the Sky Bet Championship table (an automatic promotion spot to the Premier League) with a 1-0 win away against Ipswich Town. www.foxsports.ph/football/819382/cardiff-city-azkals-keeper-etheridge-get-15th-clean-sheet-in-defeat-of-ipswich-town/
Etheridge and Philippines dreaming of English Premier League Philippines goalkeeper Neil Etheridge has been in touching distance of the English Premier League before, without getting on the pitch. After so much frustration and repeated setbacks, the wait to become the first southeast Asian to play in the league could soon be ending for Etheridge with Cardiff. The south Wales team is second in the second-tier League Championship and is on course to gain promotion to the world’s richest and most popular league. “There are big clubs paying large amounts of money to try and get into the Premier League,” said Etheridge, who was born in London in 1990 to an English father and Filipino mother. “It would be a dream to play there.” Etheridge was with Fulham from 2008 to 2014 while the London club was in the Premier League but he never managed to make it into the lineup. Etheridge has revived his career at Cardiff, which is owned by Malaysian businessman Vincent Tan. In his first season since joining Cardiff from Walsall, the 28-year-old Etheridge has missed only one game in the push to clinch one of the two automatic promotion places. With 13 games remaining, Cardiff is four points ahead of third-place Aston Villa. The Championship is the third best attended division in Europe, with an average crowd of over 20,000. “Physically, mentally, and emotionally, the Championship is a very strong level of football,” he said. “I would argue that it is right up there with some of the best leagues and is hard to get out of.” Etheridge making it into the Premier League will help to raise the profile of the game in his native Philippines. Soccer is the most popular sport in every country in the region except the Philippines, where basketball and boxing are bigger. Chris Greatwich, a former national teammate of Etheridge, already sees the impact he is having in the Philippines. “When Cardiff played Manchester City in the FA Cup recently there was a real buzz as Neil faced some of the best players in the world,” Greatwich said. “To have a player from the Philippines (in the Premier League) every week would be very exciting.” Greatwich is the head coach of Kaya, a leading club in the Philippines Football League, the country’s first nationwide professional league, established in 2017. With the second season due to kick off in March, there are issues with two of the eight teams withdrawing due to financial issues. But the national team is eyeing a first-ever appearance at the Asian Cup in 2019. The team only has to avoid defeat at home to Tajikistan on March 27 to qualify. “The Asian Cup is a massive deal,” Greatwich said. “If you had said 10 years ago that we would be one game away from playing Korea, Japan and Australia then people would have laughed. Hopefully, it will be a watershed moment for the impact it could have on the domestic game here.” The Philippines will be hoping that Etheridge can transfer his form in England, where he has kept clean sheets in 15 league games this season, back to southeast Asia next month. “You can really feel his presence when he is with the national team,” Greatwich said. “He is a big personality. He has been with the national team for 10 years and given what he is done and is doing, when he speaks people listen.” Etheridge made his international debut in 2008 at the age of 18. Even in the middle of a promotion campaign, he’s looking forward to returning to international duty. “We need a draw to make history,” he said of the Tajikistan match. “I have been part of that for 10 years and it has been a fantastic journey through thick and thin. It is a massive game.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...5838ad0d77a_story.html?utm_term=.d45cf65bb56a
Cardiff City FCVerified account @CardiffCityFC 7h7 hours ago FULL TIME: #CardiffCity 1-0 @bcfctweets! consecutive wins consecutive clean sheets @kzohore @Neil38Etheridge Still on track to finish Top 2 and outright promotion to the Premiership and 6 points off leaders Wolverhampton.
Cardiff City beat Bristol City to get 4th consecutive win, Azkals’ Neil Etheridge gets 4th straight clean sheet as well Cardiff City FC get their fourth consecutive win as second half sub Kenneth Zohore scored late in the game while Azkals keeper Neil Etheridge, once again, came up with an assured performance between the posts to help attain also their fourth straight “clean sheet” in the EFL Championship at Cardiff City Stadium last Sunday. The result gives Cardiff their fourth win and clean sheet on the trot, as the Bluebirds maintain their grip of second place in the league and also keep their four-point gap in the standing against closest chasers Aston Villa. Meanwhile Azkals’ main goalkeeper Neil Etheridge was once again solid in manning the posts and helping to deny the opposition. Cardiff City will play Brentford next in an away fixture on Saturday, March 3 at 11:00PM PHT www.foxsports.ph/football/821207/cardiff-city-beat-bristol-city-to-get-4th-consecutive-win-azkals-neil-etheridge-gets-4th-straight-clean-sheet-as-well/
IN-form Ceres Negros looks to continue to roll in the 2018 AFC Cup when it visits Home United in matchday 2 of the group stages on Tuesday at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore. The Busmen opened their AFC Cup campaign with a 9-0 thrashing of Cambodian side Boeung Ket Angkor in Panaad last week. Now they take on a tricky Defenders side which is also off to a strong start, taking down Shan United, 1-0, in their opener. “It’s the second game in the group stage and it is always important. I expect as always, a tough game because everyone wants to win,” said Ceres coach Risto Vidakovic. “They play at home, of course they need the points like us and I think it will be a big fight,” he added. The last time the Busmen played there was in the Asean Zonal Finals in the same competition where they lost, 2-1, in the first-leg following a late Harris Harun goal. Ceres then blasted the Singaporean side 2-0 at home for a 3-2 aggregate. “Ceres has the advantage because they have played more games than us. They played the qualifier in the Champions League,” said Home coach Aidil Sharin. “We do respect Ceres because they are a good team. They have good players but for us, I think we have prepared well,” he added. More on: Read more at www.spin.ph/football/news/ceres-negros-afc-cup-2018-home-united#j5Qiqapd0ZuPM3Q6.99
GLOBAL Cebu looks to barge into the winning column in the 2018 AFC Cup when it hosts Bali United in matchday two of the group stages on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum. The Cebuano club looks to replicate the same success it had in the previous AFC Cup campaign when it topped the group which included Malaysian powerhouse Johor Darul Ta’zim. Global looks to bounce back after falling 1-0 in Vietnam against home side FLC Than Hoa two weeks ago. “Our problem in the last game was loose marking in the back,” said Global coach Marjo Allado as they fell victim to a Pape Faye goal in the 74th minute. “We will learn from that and we hope that doesn’t happen again,” he added. Following a change of ownership after the last season of the PFL, Global has done fairly well preparing for this season. It still has Rufo Sanchez and Darryl Roberts up front to lead the attack but the chances came far and few in between against the homesquad in the opener. It’s something that Allado hopes to change against Bali. “We didn’t have many attempts but we are addressing that. We have to improve our attempts on target.” Bali is also fresh off a loss on home soil, bowing 3-1 to Yangon United. The Indonesian side conceded three early goals against the Myanmar-based club in the first 25 minutes, two coming from former Global player Sekou Sylla. But skipper Patrick Deyto expects a tough match against the Bali club. “They lost versus Yangon but that is not a definitive conclusion of their strength,” said Deyto who stressed the importance of this game when it comes to their chance of advancing. “All of these games are tough but this a must-win for us if we want to progress. We will give it our best,” he added. Allado echoed his captain’s sentiments. “Having watched Bali versus Yangon, they are very good with 70 percent of the possession,” Allado continued. “But they have weaknesses that we will try to exploit.” Also playing in Group G are the winners of matchday one as Yangon United hosts FLC Thanh Hoa. Read more at https://www.spin.ph/football/news/global-cebu-afc-cup-2018-bali-united#6zpgifZ4liDJRKCG.99
playmakerstats @playmaker_EN 8h8 hours ago Most league clean sheets at HOME (17/18; top 4 tiers): 10⛔: @neil38etheridge, de Gea, Carson 9⛔: Courtois, Henderson, Forde 8⛔: Randolph, Ruddy, Wiedwald, Pym, Stech #CardiffCity #Bluebirds @cardiffcityfc
http://www.foxsports.ph/football/821744/pfl-2018-preview-sinister-6-battle-royale/ The Philippines Football League’s (PFL) second season is set to begin on March 3 and now that this coming edition is going to have six teams vying for the championship, let’s briefly preview each team this coming season. Ceres Negros (Head coach: Risto Vidakovic) The defending champions are coming into the tournament as the clear strong favorites. With most of their lineup intact, especially the midfield and backline, The Busmen are still a force and are brimming with creativity, with the likes of Manny Ott, Stephan Schrock and Kevin Ingreso, from an offensive standpoint, while former Real Betis stopper Toni Doblas adds a wealth of experience in fortifying the goalmouth. For the frontline, although Spanish striker Fernando Rodriguez has moved on to new pastures in Indonesia, acquisition of former JPV striker Takumi Uesato could turn out to be a very good move with his cunning in creating chances for himself and his frontline partners Mike Ott and Bienvenido Maranon. Another crucial thing that could come into play is Ceres are coming into the league with a wealth of matches already from the AFC Champions League and AFC Cup fixtures that somehow contribute to their match fitness and chemistry. The team is also an invincible force in their home in Panaad as shown by their recent 9-0 drubbing of Boeungket Angkor. But that doesn’t mean Ceres is impenetrable, especially away from home, as shown by their 1-1 draw against 10-men Home United in Singapore. An uncharacteristic but possible off-night for the Busmen’s attack could give an opportunity for opposing teams to draw against or even steal a win. Strengths: Wealth of creativity and attacking options, seemingly unstoppable in Panaad Possible Weaknesses: An off-night in front of goal in an away fixture could make the team vulnerable to drop points or even get beaten Key players: Bienvenido Maranon, Stephan Schrock, Manny Ott New players to watch: Mike Ott, Takumi Uesato, Sean Kane, Toni Doblas Global Cebu (Head Coach: Marjo Allado) Global Cebu underwent a change of ownership and have undergone significant changes in lineup. Some of the major players who were crucial in their last season’s run to the runners-up spot have already moved on such as team captain Misagh Bahadoran, industrious attacking midfielder Hikaru Minegishi, and defender Dennis Villanueva. However, the club was able to benefit from the demise of Meralco Manila in the professional level as they were able to secure the services of speedy left-midfielder Curt Dizon, who is slowly becoming a revelation for the club with a against Bali united, and midfield dynamo Daniel Gadia. What Global Cebu needed to develop on (quickly) is to be able to further improve the incisiveness of the team. Yes, they have Darryl Roberts and Rufo Sanchez who can score goals but the fluency linking the midfield to the frontline can still be very much improved, as well as keeping possession of the ball. On the defensive end, Patrick Deyto is becoming more and more a commanding presence between the posts but, based on the results of their two AFC Cup fixtures, the solidity of the backline can still be strengthened with better discipline. Other concerns though now mainly lie in their home stadium, the current state of the pitch in Cebu City Sports Center is far from acceptable for a PFL match which puts the team in a situation where they play their “home” games away from home. With the club boasting one of the best attendances in the league every time they play in Cebu, it is unfair if they are forced to play to a different and very far venue just because of pitch issues. Strengths: Goalkeeper Patrick Deyto is in good form heading to the season, Curt Dizon could turn out to be a revelation for the club. Weakness: Incisiveness, and fluency in passing the ball can still be improved Key players: Patrick Deyto, Rufo Sanchez, Darryl Roberts New player to watch: Curt Dizon Kaya FC (Head Coach: Noel Marcaida) Kaya FC just transferred its base from Makati City to Iloilo City. The move could turn out to be a good one in terms of home game attendances given that football has a significant following as a spectator sport in the city. With Jordan Mintah and Robert Lopez Mendy most probably leading the attack, Kaya still has that firepower and will be motivated to improve from their last season’s fourth-place finish. With Woody Ugarte and Miguel Tanton back in midfield (they were sorely missed in some crucial parts of the season due to injuries), a full strength Kaya FC has the potential to finish strong this coming season. Strengths: Kaya is an industrious team with physically imposing strikers such as Robert Lopez Mendy and Jordan Mintah who could be a punishing frontline if they come out clicking well in a match. Possible Weakness: Last year’s injuries on key players affected Kaya’s run to the season. A certain level of consistency in getting results in the midst of injuries should be something they need to anticipate and address. Key players: Jordan Mintah, Miguel Tanton, Robert Mendy New player to watch: Connor Tacagni Stallion Laguna (Head Coach: Ernest Nierras) If Stallion will be able to start well this 2018 edition they way they finished last year, good things are definitely to come for Laguna. Their problem during the inaugural edition of the PFL was they started the season probably in the worst possible way. They tried to correct their ship in the second half of the campaign and made drastic improvements notching crucial wins, but the initial bad run’s effect was just too much to correct and turn things around for them to make the Finals series. Last year’s bright spot though was Jesus Melliza was a revelation topping the goalscoring chart for local players with 13 markers. One thing is for sure come their first fixture, they will do everything they can to start well this time around. Strengths: The ability to play Stallion has finally got the ingredients to compete from the get go and they have an uncanny ability beating big clubs Possible Weakness: Last year’s bad start to the season could be at the back of their heads. Breaking through that psychological barrier and starting well could be a challenge this season. Key players: Gabriele Mascazzini, Jesus Melliza, Fitch Arboleda, Benito Rosalia New player to watch: Farbod Mahmudi, Jason Cordova JPV Marikina (Head Coach: Dan Padernal) JPV was the complete opposite of Stallion last season. They started off the blocks in the early part of the year, even beating Ceres Negros FC. But a string of injuries that sidelined some key players, such as then striker Takumi Uesato’s, affected their form. They even suffered a loss by default which also dented their campaign. Finally, last year was pretty harsh for the club as they weren’t able to play even once in their designated home turf, the Marikina Sports Complex. This year will be wholly different though as the stadium is now cleared as fit to host a PFL match. Such development hopefully will be a morale booster as the club will finally be able to play in the place they could really call their home. Having arguably the best playing style and football philosophy in the league, JPV will now have a clean slate for the coming season to really play to their potential. Another challenge is two of their key players moved on to other teams with striker Takumi Uesato going to Ceres Negros and midfield general Takashi Odawara going to Davao Aguilas. The new set of players will have to prove themselves in a bid to come up with a better campaign this year. Strengths: Possession-based footballing philosophy. Possible Weakness: They get lose their groove if they go against an overly defensive squad. Key players: Nelson Gasic, Suzuki Tsubasa, New player to watch: Kennedy Uzoka Davao Aguilas (Head Coach: Marlon Maro) avao Aguilas might arguably have the most disappointing campaign last season. It was evident in the offseason that they did everything they can to bolster their squad. Now boasting probably the strongest lineup on paper (that might even trump Ceres Negros), Coach Marlon Maro now has a big task of leading the squad to a strong finish, with probably an AFC Cup berth at the least. Last year’s mid-season management and personnel changes would also not be an excuse this time around, hence the expectations are big for this pretty loaded squad. A finish of anything less than qualification to the international tournaments will spell disaster to this club. But, if they are able to harness their strengths and really play as a unit… we can just leave to the imagination how devastating Davao Aguilas would be this season! Strengths: A loaded lineup of players with a good balance of experience and immense potential. Possible Weakness: Based on last season, chemistry could be an issue (which shouldn’t be this time around) and having a playing style that would fit the type of players. Key players: Phil Younghusband, Harrison Sawyer, Dylan de Bruycker New players to watch: Josh Grommen, Takashi Odawara, Dennis Villanueva PARTING SHOTS A major change in this second season of the PFL will be the format. The league will not have a Finals Series this time, but will apply a pure league format where a win is worth three points, and a draw is equivalent to a point. This means that the team with the most points tallied at the end of the season wins, where goal difference comes into play if there is a need for a tiebreaker. So all competing teams must be on their “A”-game from the get go. Ceres might be the favorites to win this season, but in reality, with the fewer teams and the application of a league table format for the whole season, it’s anybody’s tournament. It could be poised to be a battle royale!
Philippine Women's National Football Team February 26 at 4:31am · The #PWNT won their tuneup against California State University, Northridge earlier today! Way to go girls! Here's the rest of their scheduled games stateside: February 26 vs Long Beach State University (7:30 PM at George Allen Field) February 27 vs California Baptist University (3:30 PM at Lancer Soccer Field) March 1 vs University of California San Diego (TBD at Triton Soccer Stadium) March 2 vs University of San Diego (6:00 PM at Torero Stadium) *All times in Pacific Standard Time The #PWNT lost their second game against Long Beach State University but immediately bounced back in a big way against California Baptist University!! At this point, every player on the team has also been fielded! Good signs on the #RoadToJordan! If you are in California, feel free to watch and support the Philippine Women's national team.
Bangkok United: Goalkeeper Michael Falkesgaard earns Azkals callup www.foxsports.ph/football/asian-football/822253/bangkok-united-michael-falkesgaard-earns-azkals-callup/ Although PFF or Azkals have yet to issue an official statement, Bangkok United published an update via their official Facebook page that their Filipino goalkeeper, Michael Falkesgaard, has just been called up to the Azkals for the March 2018 international window. Once confirmed on both ends, this development could be a very welcome one as it will further bolster the quality of the national team’s set of goalkeepers ahead of the scheduled friendly against Fiji on March 22 and the crucial AFC Cup qualifier match against Tajikistan on March 27. Recently the goalkeeping lineup was made up of Cardiff City’s in-form stopper Neil Etheridge, former Ceres Negros keeper Roland Muller (who hang up his boots already), and Global Cebu’s ever reliable main sentry Patrick Deyto. Definitely Michael’s addition would maintain the quality options on goalkeepers , although on the other hand, a dilemma for Coach Thomas Dooley in choosing who will be the second choice (which is a happy problem). Before playing for Bangkok in the Thai League 1, Denmark-born Falkesgaard played in the Danish league for Brondby, and Odense Boldklub. He also was a part of FC Midtjylland but did not feature in a competitive match.
Philippine Women's National Football Team The #PWNT end their US campaign with a draw against University of San Diego (the previous game versus University of California San Diego was cancelled). So that makes it 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss for this training camp.
Goal/s: Reichelt 79' Marañon 83' CERES-NEGROS: Toni Doblas, Sean Kane (Junior Munoz 46’), Carli de Murga, Manuel Herrera, Kevin Ingreso, Omid Nazari, Stephan Schrock (OJ Porteria 88’), Manny Ott, Mike Ott, Bienvenido Maranon, Takumi Uesato (Patrick Reichelt 46’). www.foxsports.ph/football/asian-football/afc-cup/823521/ceres-negros-down-shan-united-to-march-on-at-the-top/ 8 home match unbeaten streak for AFC Cup The victory sees Ceres sitting comfortably at the top of Group F on seven points, three ahead of Home United, while Shan and Boeung Ket are tied in the lower half on three points each.
http://pff.org.ph/2018/03/21/philippine-mens-national-team-squad-for-fiji-friendly/ The Philippine Men’s National Team run in the the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Qualifiers journey ends this March. The Philippines will first face Fiji in a FIFA International ‘A’ Friendly Match on 22 March 2018 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium. That match serves as the team’s final preparation for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Qualifiers match against Tajikistan on 27 March 2018 also in the same venue. 23 players have been called up for the Fiji friendly. Goalkeeper Michael Falkesgaard is the newest addition to the squad. Forward Javier Patiño also makes his return after a knee injury ruled him out in the last three matches. Players Misagh BAHADORAN – Perak FA (Malaysia) Jeffrey CHRISTIAENS – Ceres Negros FC Dylan Alain DE BRUYCKER – Davao Aguilas FC Carlos Alberto DE MURGA – Ceres Negros FC Patrick Phillip DEYTO – Global Cebu FC Michael FALKESGAARD – Bangkok United (Thailand) Kevin INGRESO – Ceres Negros FC Sean Patrick KANE – Ceres Negros FC Jesus Joaquin MELLIZA – Stallion Laguna FC Hikaru MINEGISHI – Pattaya United (Thailand) Paul MULDERS – Global Cebu FC Jim Junior MUÑOZ – Ceres Negros FC Nicholas O’DONNELL – Davao Aguilas FC Manuel OTT – Ceres Negros FC Mike Rigoberto OTT – Ceres Negros FC Javier PATIÑO – Formerly Henan Jianye (China) Iain RAMSAY – FELDA United (Malaysia) Patrick REICHELT – Ceres Negros FC Simone ROTA – Davao Aguilas FC Daisuke SATO – Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe (Romania) Dennis VILLANUEVA – Davao Aguilas FC James Joseph YOUNGHUSBAND – Davao Aguilas FC Philip James YOUNGHUSBAND – Davao Aguilas FC
Double glory in sight for Azkals and Cardiff City star Neil Etheridge Neil Etheridge is on a mission to rewrite history twice in two months by helping Philippines make the 2019 Asian Cup and become the first ASEAN footballer to play in the English Premier League. This could be the biggest year in Philippines football history and it rests solely on the broad shoulders of a certain man who is fast becoming Cardiff City’s poster boy. Should the Azkals get at least a point in the final AFC Asian Cup Group F qualifier against Tajikistan on March 27, they will make the tournament proper for the first time in the basketball-mad country’s history. And if you throw Cardiff’s stunning promotion chase into the equation, then the man in the question Neil Etheridge could become the first-ever Southeast Asian to play in the English Premier League come August. Thailand trio of Teerasil Dangda, Suree Sukha and Kietpraqut Sai-aeo came close to making Premier League debuts when they joined Thaksin Shinawatra’s Manchester City in 2007 but barely got a sniff at the starting XI. However, Etheridge will have to leave thoughts of the Premier League dream behind as he makes the arduous globetrotting journey back to Manila, to keep goal for the Azkals at the Rizal Memorial fortress. While the giant stopper has had to miss three consecutive AFF Suzuki Cup tournaments for the Azkals because the regional competition took place outside of FIFA’s international calendar, there is no chance Etheridge will miss that flight back home this time out. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the boys including myself to go to the Asian Cup,” Etheridge exclaimed to FOX Sports Asia. “We know there will definitely be great support at home and the boys know what is at stake. To make history is one thing but to be part of that squad to achieve it will be fantastic. “We are in this situation (to qualify) because we had a great start to the campaign. Going into this final game, it is pretty much all or nothing for Philippines. “I’ve gotten used to travelling back to Asia to play for Philippines and it is all about readjusting that mindset and put my full focus on the 90 minutes and get out with result we know we are capable of.” With so much at stake for the Azkals, head coach Thomas Dooley has called up the best players available, including Bangkok United’s uncapped stopper Michael Falkesgaard. The former Denmark U-20 goalkeeper qualifies to don the Azkals jersey because of his mother’s Filipino heritage and has declared his intention to wrestle the No. 1 jersey away from Etheridge. Dooley is likely to stick with his preferred keeper and must be praying that the Cardiff man brings his ‘A’ game which saw him keep four consecutive clean sheets in his first four games for the Azkals back in 2008. Going into the Fiji and Tajikistan games on the back of some superb performances for Cardiff, Etheridge welcomes the challenge posed by his new international colleague but has warned that he is ready to keep that no.1 jersey firmly in his locker. Etheridge said: “I don’t know too much about Michael but I know he signed for Bangkok United this season and has been called up for the Azkals squad. “Goalkeepers thrive on pressure situations and it’s great to have competition for the national team. “If you ask any goalkeeper colleagues I’ve had in the past, they’ll tell you they admire my attitude and work ethics. I believe in my work, I believe in myself and I’m confident of getting the nod. “Having said that, I can’t wait to meet him (Falkesgaard) in person and start training alongside each other. I’m sure we’ll get along and this healthy competition can only be good for Filipino football.” While his immediate focus will now shift towards Asian Cup qualification, Etheridge admits that this season has been a challenging one as he juggles club and country commitments, both of which he values highly. Cardiff currently sit in second spot with 76 points and are on target for top-flight promotion along with leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite having a seven-point advantage over Fulham and Aston Villa, Etheridge refuses to look beyond the next 90 minutes as he sticks to the mantra of keeping his eye on each game instead. “Our target before at the start of the season was to secure a playoff spot and we are quite close to achieving it now,” the Enfield native said. “It is still too early to talk about the Premier League because we need to finish the business first. I don’t think any of the players actually feel the pressure and we keep reminding ourselves to keep our feet on the ground. “We should just keep going out there to win every game and see where it takes us at the end of the season.” The Filipino stopper was due to play against Derby County on Sunday night before getting on the plane for his Wednesday morning flight back to Manila. Heavy snowfall at Pride Park saw the game postponed and a new date is set for April. This has burdened Etheridge’s schedule even more but the giant stopper is taking it all in his stride as he aims to finish off what has been a superb season for club and country. “I fly in Wednesday, play for Philippines and I get back in to club business the following Wednesday before we take on Burton Albion on Friday. It’ll be a crazy few weeks in and out but I am ready for it,” added Etheridge. “I’m not thinking about the hectic schedule and focusing on what I can achieve instead. Hopefully, pushing myself to the limit this season will inspire more Filipino youngsters to chase the football dream and know that there is an opportunity to play at the highest level.” It will be a whirlwind two-month voyage culminating in the final Championship game on May 6 at home to Reading FC but at the age of 28 and with more than 200 games for club and country, the blood, sweat and tears shed since lacing up his first pair of boots at Court Moor School in Fleet, Hampshire will come full circle. http://www.foxsports.ph/football/as...zkals-and-cardiff-city-star-neil-etheridge-2/