The biggest match in recent Philippine football history unfolds at 7 tonight at the Panaad Park and Sports Stadium in Bacolod City with the national team Azkals confident of victory in the first leg of their AFC Challenge Cup qualifying playoff match against the Mongolia Blue Wolves.

Feeling 100 percent fit and ready for the game, Phil Younghusband said he will try to score at least two goals, while team captain Aly Borromeo said he will do his best to convert a penalty or a corner kick into a goal for the Azkals.

Ilonggos Ian Araneta and co-team captain Chippy Caligdong, whose relatives and friends from Iloilo are coming to Bacolod to see them play, are also optimistic of a big win for the national team.

Araneta, a product of a football grassroots development program and a Palarong Pambansa campaigner for Western Visayas in the 90s, said his forecast is 3-0 in favor of the Azkals.

Caligdong, on the other hand, said the entire team is mentally and physically fit and there is no reason for them not to play a high level game.

Stressing that they can never underestimate the strength and the skills of Team Mongolia, the veteran player from Barotac, Iloilo, said the home crowd will be their inspiration in winning their first game against Mongolia.

Keeping their focus and never to forget that football is 11 against 11 players inside the pitch, Azkals’ head coach Hans Michael Weiss said the team should be careful and should not be complacent with their play.

“The Mongolia team is here to play for their country and they have a young team. Surely, it will be a good game,” Weiss said.

The Blue Wolves trained for one week in Guangzhou, China, before heading for the Philippines and they have veteran players in the lineup too, Mongolia head coach Sandagdorj Erdenebat said during yesterday’s press conference at the L’Fisher Hotel.

Although their players have less exposure to international matches, team manager Dambiijav Terbaatar said they came prepared and their young players are very good.

Meanwhile, Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta said the PFF is happy with the management of the Azkals under team manager Dan Palami and a win by the nationals will be a fitting birthday gift for President Benigno Aquino.

Confident that the national team has prepared well for the tonight’s game, Palami said it has been a tough journey for the Azkals and the players know the importance of winning the game for the country.*NAB

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