Philippines v Tajikistan (2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification)

The Philippines v Tajikistan was a 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification match between the Philippines and Tajikistan. It was hosted in Rizal Memorial Stadium.

2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification
Group F
The Rizal Memorial Stadium hosted the match
Event2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification
Philippines Tajikistan
2 1
Date27 March 2018
VenueRizal Memorial Stadium, Manila
RefereeJarred Gillett (Australia)
Attendance4,671

The match is significant because of the encounter's outcome. The joy was not only for the Philippines, but the joy was also shared to Yemen, another team in their qualification group. The match's outcome gave both the Philippines and Yemen its first ever AFC Asian Cup in the history, and was celebrated in both nations.[1][2]

Background
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Philippines 5 2 3 0 11 7 +4 9 2019 AFC Asian Cup
2  Yemen 5 1 4 0 5 4 +1 7
3  Tajikistan 5 2 1 2 9 7 +2 7
4    Nepal (E) 5 0 2 3 2 9 −7 2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated.

At the time of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification campaign, the Philippines and Tajikistan shared group with Yemen and minnows Nepal, all four had previously never made a debut in the tournament. Until the final game, Nepal was officially eliminated, but the rest still held some chances. The Philippines had the brightest prospect among all, having achieved two wins, but still only above both Yemen and Tajikistan two points, and a defeat for the Philippines meant that the country had to wait for the encounter between Yemen and Nepal, which limited the chance of the Philippines to qualify. The Filipinos had already missed the opportunity back in 2014, when they lost to Palestine in the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup Final.[3]

For Tajikistan, they were also in no better position. Although equal in point with Yemen, but inferior head-to-head records to the Yemenis (1–2 on aggregate) meant that Tajikistan must have to win this game to secure direct qualification. Tajikistan had repeatedly missed opportunities to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup in the history, from 1996 qualification when they let Uzbekistan to make a comeback and losing 4–5 on aggregate; 2000 qualification where Tajikistan stayed second after Iraq; 2004 qualification where they fell behind Thailand just a point; and most recently was the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup where Tajikistan lost 1–4 to India and was dismissed from ever qualifying to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.[3]

The two countries have shared their group in the third round of 2019 Asian Cup qualification. Tajikistan was edged 3–4 by the Filipinos at home in the earlier qualification match.[4] Historical encounter also pointed against Tajikistan, with the Philippines drew two another games and remained undefeated to the Tajiks.[5] Under such circumstances, only a win could give Tajikistan their wish, after missing the earlier chance to beat Yemen at home. A draw for Tajikistan would mean the only way to qualify was Nepal had to beat Yemen, a chance which was also very slim as well; while for the Philippines, a draw was also enough for them to qualify.

Match

Summary

The match began with the Tajiks hurried to take the first move on the stadium as the confident host sought to surprise the Tajiks at the early minutes. Amirbek Juraboev made a surprise pass to Jahongir Aliev but the latter missed it. Soon after, Mike Ott responded with a similar header in 10', and also missed the net. Just two minutes later, Jahongir Ergashev made a response with a header, but it went wild. Next minutes saw the host began overpowering the Tajik visitors, but every attempt ended in futile. The Tajiks made some headline in 34' with a free kick, only saw Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev sending beyond his teammates. Simone Rota in 37' had a chance to deliver the lead from the corner kick but he shot to the sky. In the injury time of the first half, Davron Ergashev tried with a free kick in front of the Filipino net, but was blocked, with his appeal over handball dismissed by the Australian referee Jarred Gillett, sending the first half goalless.[6]

Second half saw the Philippines had the first chance by Phil Younghusband, but no one of the Philippines could get into the ball as it went straight to Abduaziz Mahkamov's hands. The host had a startled moment when the Tajiks almost scored, but solid defense by the Filipinos prevented such thing from ever happening. In 61', the Tajiks suddenly made a breakthrough, thanked for skillful display by Jahongir Aliev whom his passing to captain Nuriddin Davronov forced Daisuke Sato to commit foul in the host's penalty area, in which Akhtam Nazarov successfully converted the penalty to give the visitor an important lead in 64'. The Philippines, after being taken the lead, increased pressure on Tajikistan, and it took only 10 minutes for the hosts to equalize, with the brilliant pass by Iain Ramsay, after receiving ball from Phil Younghusband, provided a header, which Kevin Ingreso didn't miss to send the score 1–1. With Tajikistani players struggled to find the way to Neil Etheridge's net, a powerful free kick by Ingreso allowed substitute Patrick Reichelt to infiltrate to Tajik defense, which gave the host an important penalty when Iskandar Dzhalilov kicked Patrick Reichelt's chest. Phil Younghusband converted the penalty to give the Philippines a historic 2–1 lead in front of emphatic home fans. Before the end of the game, in the Filipino area saw Carli de Murga and Jahongir Ergashev collided to each other and was followed by Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev punching de Murga's face, causing a brawl in the field. The Australian referee was not hesitate to give Dennis Villanueva a straight red card, before giving Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev another yellow card, ultimately sending off players of both sides from the field, but it meant little as the Philippines won the decisive match to qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.[6]

Details
Philippines 2–1 Tajikistan
 Report
Attendance: 4,671
Philippines
Tajikistan
GK1Neil Etheridge
RB11Daisuke Sato 70'
CB3Simone Rota
CB4Carli de Murga
LB13Dennis Villanueva 90+4'
RM14Kevin Ingreso
CM8Manuel Ott
CM7Iain Ramsay 88'
LM9Misagh Bahadoran 71'
CF5Mike Ott 59'
CF10Phil Younghusband (c)
Substitutions:
MF17Patrick Reichelt 59'
FW23James Younghusband 71'
MF22Paul Mulders 88'
Manager:
Thomas Dooley
GK1Abduaziz Mahkamov
RB6Davron Ergashev 76'
CB5Iskandar Dzhalilov
CB19Akhtam Nazarov
LB2Siyovush Asrorov 43'
CM22Amirbek Juraboev 79'
CM8Nuriddin Davronov (c)
RW21Manuchekhr Dzhalilov 85'
AM18Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev 90+4' 
LW9Jahongir Aliev
CF10Jahongir Ergashev
Substitutions:
MF12Romish Dzhalilov 79'
Manager:
Khakim Fuzailov

Post-match
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Philippines (Q) 6 3 3 0 13 8 +5 12 2019 AFC Asian Cup
2  Yemen (Q) 5 1 4 0 5 4 +1 7
3  Tajikistan (E) 6 2 1 3 10 9 +1 7
4    Nepal (E) 5 0 2 3 2 9 −7 2
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Qualification tiebreakers
(E) Eliminated; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated.

The win for the Philippines meant that for the first time ever in Filipino football history, the Philippines had qualified for a major football competition.[7] The win was also important in a country where basketball, boxing and beauty pageant taken strong place, it provided a significant boost for football in the archipelagoes, which had seen a rapid renaissance since 2010.[8]

The Philippines' victory over Tajikistan also meant that Yemen officially qualified for the first time ever to the AFC Asian Cup, thanked for better head-to-head record to Tajikistan, which was considered as a great joy for the nation, considering the tragic circumstance inside the country. They later beat Nepal 2–1 in their final game held in Doha to complete its cinderella journey.[9]

For Tajikistan, the catastrophic loss away meant that Tajikistan was officially eliminated from the Asian Cup once again. This loss was the fifth times Tajikistan missed an opportunity to qualify.[10] This prompted manager Khakim Fuzailov to resign following this humiliation. As for the result, the repeated failure of a number of Tajik-born managers was instrumental in the hiring of Usmon Toshev, an Uzbek, with hope to reinvigorate the team and to achieve the failed attempts.

The Philippines and Yemen were placed in group C and group D when the 2019 AFC Asian Cup began. Both teams eventually failed in their respective groups, losing all games, but the Philippines managed to score its first ever goal in a competitive tournament, thanked for Stephan Schröck.[11]

References
  1. "Philippines qualify for 2019 Asian Cup in UAE and captain Phil Younghusband hopes it can lead to 'resurgence' for football in the country". The National.
  2. Martinez, Antonio. "Yemen's Miracle Sojourn to the 2019 Asian Cup". HowTheyPlay - Sports.
  3. "Experts' View: Philippines vs Tajikistan | Football | News | Asian Qualifiers 2022". the-AFC.
  4. "Национальная сборная Таджикистана проиграла сборной Филиппин". 14 June 2017.
  5. "Philippines national football team: record v Tajikistan". www.11v11.com.
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWURkV0j0M8
  7. "Azkals secure passage to AFC Asian Cup, down Tajikistan, 2-1". cnn.
  8. "Philippines 2, Tajikistan 1: Postgame thoughts on a perfect night for Pinoy football". Rappler.
  9. "'Miracle' Asian Cup qualification gives war-torn Yemen a united goal – football". Scroll.in.
  10. "Таджикистан-Филиппины 1:2". 13 March 2012.
  11. "Asian Cup 2019: Kyrgyz Republic 3-1 Philippines". 17 January 2019.
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