Malaysia-based winger helps Philippines qualify for first Asian Cup
FOR the first time, Philippines have qualified for the AFC Asian Cup, continuing almost a decade of progress that started when they first made the semi-finals of Southeast Asia’s Suzuki Cup in 2010. But while they can look back with pride on an unbeaten campaign, the reality is that they were just 15 minutes away from disaster.
They hosted Tajikistan in their final qualifier on Tuesday night, needing a point to progress to the 2019 tournament in United Arab Emirates. Yet, disaster struck just past the hour in Manila, as the visitors took a shock leader when Akhtam Nazarov converted a penalty after Kevin Ingreso had felled Nuriddin Davronov in the box.
But late goals by Ingreso and captain Phil Younghusband – the latter scoring in added time – ensured that the Azkals won 2-1 to finish top of their group to book their Asian Cup spot.
“We are buzzing after an emotional win that was the best of my career,” said midfielder Iain Ramsay. “We are going to the Asian Cup and history has been made for the Philippines. It means the world to us because we will now be playing on the biggest stage in Asian football.”
Perth- born Ramsay opted to represent the nation of his mother in 2015 after half a dozen years in the A-League.
The qualification means that his gamble to move to Southeast Asia has paid off. He plays his club football for Malaysia second division side, Felda United, after a proposed deal to Thailand fell through at the end of last year.
He could now face many of his old teammates and club rivals at January’s finals, with Australia defending their crown after their triumph on home soil three years ago.
“Footbal l can sometimes write a crazy story and it would be a great moment to play the Socceroos in the Asian Cup, for sure,” Ramsay said.
“Only until this last year has our squad really come together. We have been through a lot of ups and downs, but with hard work, we are starting to get our rewards.”
Ramsay has been a useful addition to the Azkals, providing pace and good service from the left flank to give his side another attacking option.
After two big wins to begin their Group F campaign, Philippines seemed to be cruising towards a spot in the UAE.
But three frustrating draws in a row, including a 0- 0 stalemate away to minnows Nepal last November, put them in danger of missing out.
For the 2015 Asian Cup, they were also on the brink of qualification, only to fall at the last hurdle when they suffered a shock loss to Palestine in the AFC Challenge Cup final.
But thi s t ime, Thomas Dooley’s side found a way. While their performances were often inconsistent with goals drying up at crucial times, they were also resilient and combative. They were driven by their core of overseas- born players like Ramsay, the Younghusband brothers, Dennis Villanueva, Manny Ot t and Pat r ick Reichelt.
Philippines’ appearance on the continental stage could provide a boost to the sport in the basketball- mad nation of 100 million people after the disappointment of the 2016 Suzuki Cup on home soil where they failed to progress beyond the group stages.
Philippines were once the whipping boys of Asian football, suffering double- digit defeats when coach Dooley was growing up in his native Germany. But the strides made since the start of the Millennium have been significant.
They have been Southeast Asia’s highest- ranked side in recent years, before falling behind Vietnam (113th) on the current list at 122nd.
Despite their relative lack of success, Philippines have always been at the heart of Asian football, with the AFC first established in Manila in 1954.
The confederation’s 60th anniversary was lavishly celebrated in the capital city, with national superstars Gary Valenciano and Lea Salonga – the original star of Miss Saigon – performing at a gala celebration at the Shangri- La Hotel in Makati in November 2014
The Younghusbands – Phil i s now 3 0 and James 3 1 – are established celebrities themselves. But the English-born former Chelsea juniors tend to be feted for their Eurasian good looks, rather than their sporting prowess. Sports-mad Filipinos are more likely to be talking about the latest NBA results instead of the Azkals, or the fledgling Philippines Football League which has endured more teething problems into its second season.
Indeed, fewer than 5,000 fans were on hand at Rizal Memorial Stadium to see Tuesday night’s come-from-behind victory over the Tajiks.
But if Philippines are able to match Asian powerhouses like Japan, South Korea or Iran in January, they could conceivably make a dent in basketball’s dominance.
“It is a great that we have finally qualified for the Asian Cup,” Ramsay said. “I feel we deserve it, as we never lost a game in the qualifiers.”
Never lost a game, but they did keep fans on the edge of their seats until the final seconds of the final qualifier, in true Azkals’ fashion.
The 2019 Asian Cup draw will be held in Dubai on May 4. The Socceroos of Ramsay’s birthplace can expect a torrid time should they happen to encounter the Street Dogs – which is what Azkals means in the Tagalog language.
Former Astro host Jason Dasey is Singapore-based TV broadcaster and event emcee. Twitter: @ JasonDasey