| Bacolod City, Philippines | Wednesday, April 5, 2006 |
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BY CEDELF TUPAS
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With the huge disparity in their FIFA rankings, many thought the Philippines-India clash Monday night would turn into a rout. But Mark Alvin Valeroso saved the 191st ranked Philippine side from another disappointing loss as he headed the equalizer that forced a 1-all standoff with title contenders India in Group A of the inaugural Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong, Bangladesh. The 22-year-old Valeroso, a 5-foot-5 midfielder from Zamboanga City, scored in the 18th minute off a Jeremias Jiao corner, after Vimal Pariyar put the Indians, who rank 73 places above the Filipinos, ahead eight minutes into the game. The draw proved crucial for the RP booters, who avoided early elimination after suffering a heartbreaking 1-0 setback to Chinese Taipei Saturday in the 16-team tournament featuring the emerging national teams in Asia. India and Chinese Tapiei have four points each after two matches but the Indians are ahead in goal difference. Afghanistan, which held Chinese Taipei to a thrilling 2-2 draw Monday, and the Philippines have a single point each. The Filipinos need to win convincingly against Afghanistan in its final group match today. A draw in the other match between Chinese Taipei and India would dash the hopes of the RP XI. RP XI coach Aris Caslib hopes the equation after the final game favors his team. "I hope to make it to the last eight stage. My players have done quite well in the last game against India and I have confidence in them," he said in the AFC website. Among the early quarterfinalists were Group C squads Bangladesh and Palestine.*CPT |
