Tuesday night at Rizal Stadium
Again -
Sports as the Great Metaphor for Life
The Gratifying, the Uplifting, and the Enriching Moments ...
No, this is not a game recap though it easily appears to be. [I'm no sports writer, just a blogger who likes to share some images [some game stats] - and articulate an opinion or two - occasionally].
Coming into last night's AFC Match at the Rizal [ Phil Azkals vs DPR Korea ] - I had no real expectations, really, of what might happen [we all know that the ball is round] - But fast forward to the early, early part of the 2nd Half of the match, when Nokor went ahead by 1 -{2-1} - - 'Twas just a very critical part of the match - I suddenly got this negative thought - hey - that the Nokors are simply a World Cup Team that is a level, or two, above our boys
- Reality Check !
- and that we all should not be surprised that the Nokors are now leading - considering still, of course, that there was a LONG 45 minute strech of "pukpukan" left for the Azkals to "save the day" - draw, at least - or maybe even win the match -
The momentum obviously shifted in favor of the Nokors and the Azkals faithful started feeling gradually uneasy as the seconds ticked by.
I'm never one to predict and I firmly believe that nothing is truly impossible, and so when the final whistle was blown - I simply wasn't that surprised [course if Nokor won, neither would I] that we completed a come-from-behind win.
and NOT what people, predict might happen, generally assume might, or could probably happen, or play for to happen. Right ?
Coming into last night's AFC Match at the Rizal [ Phil Azkals vs DPR Korea ] - I had no real expectations, really, of what might happen [we all know that the ball is round] - But fast forward to the early, early part of the 2nd Half of the match, when Nokor went ahead by 1 -{2-1} - - 'Twas just a very critical part of the match - I suddenly got this negative thought - hey - that the Nokors are simply a World Cup Team that is a level, or two, above our boys
- Reality Check !
- and that we all should not be surprised that the Nokors are now leading - considering still, of course, that there was a LONG 45 minute strech of "pukpukan" left for the Azkals to "save the day" - draw, at least - or maybe even win the match -
The momentum obviously shifted in favor of the Nokors and the Azkals faithful started feeling gradually uneasy as the seconds ticked by.
I'm never one to predict and I firmly believe that nothing is truly impossible, and so when the final whistle was blown - I simply wasn't that surprised [course if Nokor won, neither would I] that we completed a come-from-behind win.
Sports IS What Actually Happens !
and NOT what people, predict might happen, generally assume might, or could probably happen, or play for to happen. Right ?
First half images follow below :
The Azlkals had quite a number of intrusion,
and a few decent attempts in the first 40 or so minutes of the 1st Half.
43rd minute - Game Changer
This attempt by Javier Patino [#20] actually hit the Nokor keeper's body, the ball then rebounding upwards. Veteran Misagh Bahadoran, who seemed to be "at the right place at the right time" - swopoed "out of nowhere" and headed [drilled] the ball in, the keeper getting caught flatfooted - or at least, that is how i remember, seeing it on instant replay, during the halftime break.
I didn't catch Misgah's header - fyi - just the fleeting celebtatory hugs, just seconds later.
Could have been a great way to end the 1st Half [leading 1-0] but ....
...at [45 + 1] came the game Equalizer by Nokor's So Kyong Jin [#14].
So, at the Halftime Break, 'twas a 1-all Draw.
So, at the Halftime Break, 'twas a 1-all Draw.
---------
The feeling was a li'l different, at least mine was, coming into the 2nd Half.
I whispered to a media colleague of mine that Nokor now, "had our number", so to speak, and the Azkals were having little more difficulty with their offense.
Iain Ramsay is mobbed by his team mates - after his 90th minute goal !
I whispered to a media colleague of mine that Nokor now, "had our number", so to speak, and the Azkals were having little more difficulty with their offense.
Simone Rota's attempt goes awry
Late into the 2nd Half, James Younghusband 's energy
did show how determined and undaunted the boys were.
In just a ittle over five minute after James' entry,
the Azkals had a so much more Bite left.
The match was so, so so far from over
My bad for me ! - I had just panned to Manny, but he had launched already.
The Azkals fought tooth and nail, and eventually both teams would get their share of decent attempts and close ones, at that [missed opps, great saves and all]. But as I said Sports is - WHAT Actually Happens - and as the pressure to equalize was all but to evidently mounting - Manny Ott and the Azkals found daylight and Bingo ! 1-all - 85th minute !
My bad for me ! - I had just panned to Manny, but he had launched already.
{Phil - 3 DPR Korea - 2}
Manny [goal #2 on the 85th], Misagh [goal #1 on the 43rd],
Iain [goal #3 on the 90th]
brosi gonzales
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