Team Philippines "Azkals" wins vs Myanmar, advances to the semi-finals of AFF Suzuki Cup 2010

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A big hooray for the Azkals!

The Philippine football team "Azkals" has advanced to the semi-finals of AFF Suzuki Cup 2010, after their game with Myanmar ended up to a draw, 0-0, earlier tonight.


Philippines (blue) vs Myanmar (red)


It was held at the Thien Truong Stadium in Vietnam, watched live by a crowd, mostly Vietnamese people who were all rooting for Myanmar.

I was able to watch it on Studio 23, which had a live telecast of the game straight from Vietnam, and I've wanted to kick those Vietnamese people for cheering and chanting for Myanmar. In other words, they wanted Philippines to lose that game.

But of course, it's understandable because it was the Azkals who gave them the biggest shock of their lives last Sunday, when the Azkals defeated Team Vietnam, 2-0.

The draw with Myanmar plus the draw with Singapore and their victory over Vietnam puts Philippines on 2nd spot in the Group B standing, making them qualify for the semi-finals.

On top of Group B is Vietnam, which was able to defeat Singapore during their face-off also held tonight in a separate venue.

Vietnam and Philippines now join the Top 2 from Group A (Indonesia & Malaysia) in the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 semi-finals, which begins next week.

Philippines' first semi-final game will be against Indonesia on December 16 at Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Indonesia.

Their 2nd game with Indonesia will still be held in the same venue because there's no available stadium in the Philippines meeting the requirements set by the ASEAN Football Federation. Read their official press statement about this one:

"The Philippines will not be able to play a leg of their semi-final or subsequent final at a home venue due to no available stadia in the country meeting the requirements for the AFF Suzuki Cup.

The Asean Football Federation took the decision after careful consideration and talks with the relevant parties.

A set of guidelines has to be met before a stadium can stage an AFF Suzuki Cup match and none of the proposed venues in the Philippines reached the required standard stipulated in the Hosting Obligations for the tournament.

The Philippines Football Federation agrees they will be allowed to choose to play one leg of their semi-final at a neutral venue or both legs in the country of their opposition.

The Asean Football Federation would like to congratulate the Philippines for reaching the last four of the AFF Suzuki Cup for the first time and wish them good luck in the semi-finals."


Photo courtesy of AFF

About M.I.

Mykiru is an entertainment blogger, having been named as one of the Top 10 Pinoy Showbiz Resources in the Philippines. For a decade now, Mykiru.ph has been delivering the latest, the hottest and most trending issues in the country.
Comments

6 Comment(s):

  1. saan ba yung venue nung semifinals dito sa philippines

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  2. Sayang.

    Dapat sa semis home-and-away yung games.

    Ngayon away-and-away. Bakit? Kasi olats daw lahat ng outdoor stadiums natin. :(

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  3. uyyy sad news. parehong sa GELORA BUNG KARNO, JAKARTA gaganapin ang laban ng Philippines vs Indonesia.... nakakalungkot no?

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  4. Way to go Azkals! It's good to finally see the Phil team become a respected team in the ASEAN arena at least. Check my blog article: http://www.wanderlustabouttown.com/2010/12/azkals-no-longer-whipping-boys-of-asean.html

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  5. ilan na po standing nan azkals ?

    ReplyDelete
  6. For Live Streaming http://goo.gl/2g3Yy

    ReplyDelete