A fearless one-on-one attack from the wily Chieffy Caligdong in the 43rd minute and a powerful kick near the goal’s mouth by Phil

Younghusband, four minutes into injury time, capped the successful taming by the Philippine football team Azkals of the Mongolia Blue Wolves, 2-0, in the first leg of the AFC Challenge Cup qualifying playoff at the Panaad Park and Sports Stadium in Bacolod City last night.

Caligdong found the perfect opportunity to score as he skillfully eluded his defender and maneuvered the ball from the upper left flank to score the Azkal’s first goal.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon and Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia last night said the victory of the Philippine Azkals over the Mongolian national team was a proud moment for Filipinos.

Leonardia and Marañon, accompanied by Philippine Football Federation president Mariano Araneta, shook the hands of the players of both teams at the Panaad Sports Stadium field before the start of the game.

Marañon said he was very, very happy, and proud as a Filipino with the Azkals victory.

She did not lose her slipper like Cinderella, but this lady made it to the Azkal-Mongolia match without her shoes.

Senator Miguel Zubiri and his wife, Aubrey, were scheduled to leave Manila yesterday on the 5 p.m. flight for the 7 p.m. game at the Panaad Stadium but it was delayed, and they were finally able to land in the Bacolod-Silay Airport at past 7 p.m.

Aside from the airport being too far from the site, they also discovered that traffic was so heavy on the roads leading to Panaad that they were afraid they would miss the game. So they decided to literally make a run for it, and run they did.