Host of strikers to fill in for Phil Younghusband in Azkals' roster

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Even without Phil Younghusband, the Philippine Azkals can lean on a host of strikers ready to fill the shoes of the star striker when the team begins its historic campaign in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup in Myanmar next week. Tapped to stand in for the injured Younghusband is Air Force veteran Ian Araneta. Other welcome news for Azkals fans are the return of Filipino-American Chris Greatwich and the addition of 6-foot-2 Filipino-Spaniard Angel Aldeguer Guirado and William Espinosa. "I'm always ready and I welcome the challenge. If they (the coaching staff) give me the responsibility, I'll live up to it and show them that I can get the job done," said Araneta in Filipino. Younghusband will miss the Azkals' opening Group A match against host Myanmar on Monday (March 21) after the team's most popular player suffered a grade-two tear in his right hamstring. "I'm sad that I won't be able to play in Myanmar, but I'm confident that they can win with the help of the new players," said the Filipino-British Younghusband in Filipino. The 23-year-old got his injury in the Philippines' 1-2 loss to the Mongolia Blue Wolves in the second leg of their AFC Challenge Cup pre-qualifying match in freezing Ulan Bator last Tuesday. "We're going to miss him a lot. He is a big part of the team and the other teams fear him. There's good news and bad news. Chris Greatwich is coming back," said James Younghusband, Phil's older brother. Though the Azkals lost the match, they made it to the next round based on a 3-2 aggregate score courtesy of the team’s 2-0 win in the first leg played in Bacolod last month. After Myanmar, the Azkals will face Palestine on March 23 and Bangladesh on March 25 in Group A. The top two teams in the each of the four groups will advance to the quarterfinals. The top eight teams are also qualified to bid in hosting the finals. – JVP, KY, GMA News