MANILA (10 March 2012) – The Philippines made a bad start to their Group B campaign in the AFC Challenge Cup 2012 when they faltered to a 2-0 loss to former champions North Korea in the game that was played at the Halchowk Stadium in Nepal.
The North Koreans, winners in 2010, dominated the first-half but were denied a 16th minute lead when Azkal’s keeper Neil Etheridge saved a retaken Pak Song-chol penalty.
The midfielder had thought he had netted his ninth AFC Challenge Cup goal to equal the tournament record set by Palestine’s Fahed Attal but Indian referee Pratap Singh ruled out the goal citing encroachment inside the box.
Etheridge, who only arrived in Nepal on Wednesday, was in inspired form denying the 2012 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on no fewer than five occasions as the Philippines went into the break on level terms with the AFC Challenge Cup favourites.
The North Koreans finally broke through the resilient Philippines defence courtesy of Pak Nam-chol’s 58th minute header before Etheridge failed to deal with a high cross from the right, allowing substitute Jang Kuk-chol to double the defending champions’ lead eleven minutes later.
AFC CHALLENGE CUP 2012
CURRENT GROUP B STANDINGS
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| DPR KOREA | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| TAJIKISTAN | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| INDIA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| PHILIPPINES | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
