Azkals was defeated by Kuwait with score of 2-1.

The Azkals made their first score in a spectacular first-half goal, but later suffered in second-half of the match. Azkals’ defensive broke to allow the Kuwaitis to achieved their 2-1 victory at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

With their win at home, Kuwait advanced to the third round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers on a 5-1 aggregate while eliminating the Philippines.

Yousef Sulaiman and Ahmed Jumah made the scores for Kuwait in the 61st and 85th minute.

But those came after the Philippines gave them a scare by striking first, when midfielder Stephan Schrock slammed home the Azkals’ first and only goal in two matches, just before the half, igniting the crowd.

The euphoria extended into halftime as a sold-out stadium began smelling a historic upset against an opponent ranked 67 places higher in the FIFA rankings.

But to move on to the next World Cup qualifying round, the Azkals not only had to win but beat Kuwait by four goals, after losing in the away leg, 3-0.

Up tempo match

With a three-goal deficit, the Azkals played a high defensive line to push forward and pressure the Kuwaitis from the start.

Both teams had numerous chances to score with Kuwait looking to counter-attack the Azkals pressing game in the high tempo match.

Both teams also played the ball quickly and effectively behind some crisp passing. The Philippines also abandoned their old long-ball tactics.

Kuwaiti Fahad Al-Ebrahim was ejected midway in the second half after a dangerous challenge against Chieffy Caligdong, giving the Azkals a golden opportunity to pad their lead.

However, the Azkals’ playing so high up the pitch enabled Kuwait to counter with a fast break and score soon after the red card to momentarily silence the pro-Filipino crowd.

Down to 10 men, Kuwait played the ball well to the left, with Jumah finding the back of the net.

Azkals keeper Neil Etheridge was tenacious in goal, but the Kuwaitis’ better coordination and even conditioning shone in the two late goals.

Despite the result, the crowd gave the home team a standing ovation after the match as they circled the pitch to chants of “Azkals, Azkals, Azkals,” a shirtless and brawny young Etheridge reminding the crowd that this team can only get better. –

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After fending off an unexpected challenge from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Dallas Cowboys have kept tackle Doug Free.

According to various reports, Free and the Cowboys agreed to a four-year deal worth $32 million that includes $17 million guarantee.

While Free will not be able to practice until Aug. 4 as the league year starts, but he will be allowed to attend meetings in San Antonio.

Free, a four-year veteran, became the full-time starter at left tackle in 2010, after Flozell Adams was cut. Free could be moving back to the right side, with the arrival of first-round pick Tyron Smith.

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Amir Khan knocked out Zab Judah in the fifth round adding IBF junior welterweight title to his WBA super lightweight crown in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

The knocked-out came with a bodyshot that crumpled Judah (41-7, 28 KOs) to his knees. Judah complained that he was punched low but replays shows it was on the belt line and legal.

“I knew he was getting hurt because he kept moving away and ducking,” said Khan (26-1, 18 KOs). “I kept hitting him in the face but the punch that dropped him was clean and on the belt.”

Khan, 24, was dominant from the first bell, punishing Judah with stiff left jabs and solid straight right hands.

Judah showed effective head movement for the first few rounds, meaning few of Khan’s punches landed cleanly, but the 33-year-old threw very few punches in return, even as Khan pursued him relentlessly.

Khan landed with just 61 of the 284 punches he threw during the fight but Judah threw only 115 punches in return, landing a mere 20, as Khan pursued him relentlessly.

Even with Judah’s evasive techniques, Khan scored with several solid flurries, backing Judah to the ropes and landing right hands that had the largely British crowd roaring with approval.

By the fifth, Judah was no longer able to escape the full force of Khan’s blows. Khan had by now found his range and was landing with increasing ease.

“If it had gone a few more rounds, I would have knocked him out with a clean shot,” said Khan. “It was just a matter of time. I think I overwhelmed him with my speed and power. I could have gone in with a plan to knock him out sooner, but I wanted to take my time.”

Khan had won all four completed rounds on every judge’s scorecard at the time of the stoppage but Judah insisted that the coup de grace had been a foul blow.

“It was a low blow,” he said. “I was trying to get myself together. When the referee started counting, I thought he was giving me a standing eight count. I thought I would have the chance to get up. I didn’t understand.”

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Kuwait defeated the Philippine Azkals, 3-0, in the first leg of their FIFA World Cup qualifying match.

The match held at Mohammad Al-Hammad (Qadsia Club) in Hawally.

Kuwait’s Yousef Nasser opened the scoring with a header in the 16th minute that evaded goalkeeper Neil Etheridge’s outstretched hands.

The second score was credited to Musaed Neda in the 65th minute. Some doubted who made the score but replays goal showed that it may have been an own goal by an Azkals defender.

Third score was made by Fahed Al-Ibrahim as he took advantage on the tiring Philippine side in the 85th minute.

Meanwhile, Philippine Azkals’s Phil Younghusband  nearly scored a few minutes into the first half when he went one-on-one with the Kuwaiti goalkeeper, who parried off his shot.

A resulting corner saw an Angel Guirado header rattle the crossbar.

Younghusband again hit the crossbar in his second attempt to score in a long-range volley in the 30th minute.

Kuwait, the  defending Gulf Cup of Nations champion, dominated possession in the match, with the Azkals deciding to sit back in a counterattacking 4-5-1 formation.

The Kuwaiti players launched their attacks through long balls to the sides of the box, while the Azkals resorted to long balls to Younghusband, who often found himself isolated and looking for a teammate.

After end-to-end action in the first half, the Azkals lost steam in the second half.

Their coach, Michael Weiss did not bring in fresh legs into the match even after the 80th minute, when cramps and the heat were taking their toll on his players.

Philippine Azkals missed the players Aly Borromeo and Stephan Schroeck, who were suspended for the first leg of the tie against Kuwait after they incurred 2 yellow cards in the opening round of the World Cup qualifiers.

Weiss used a defense-oriented, counterattacking 4-5-1 formation in lieu of his favored 4-4-2 system. Azkals’s formation seemed to worked well in the first half, with Kuwait failing to penetrate the Azkals’ defense.

Azkals team manager Dan Palami said he is proud of the Azkals for reaching this far into the competition. “Whatever we do, we always have to remember the time when talent and resources were scarce and all we had was heart,” he said.

The second leg of the World Cup qualifying tie will be held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on July 28.

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David Beckham announced the name of their baby girl on his Facebook page Harper Seven Beckham.

Simon Oliveira said that the celebrity couple are “delighted to announce the birth of their daughter.”

“Happy and healthy she arrived at 7.55 am this morning at Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles and weighed 7lbs 10oz,” Oliveira posted on Twitter, adding that the Beckhams’ three sons “are excited to welcome their baby sister to the family.”

Earlier, it has been posted here that Kate Hudson also gave birth a healthy baby boy.

The baby girl Harper was considered luck was born the morning after Beckham scored directly from a corner kick to give the Los Angeles Galaxy a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire, extending his team’s Major League Soccer unbeaten streak to 12 matches.

David Beckham & wife Victoria were married in 1999 with children Brooklyn, 11, Romeo, 8, and Cruz, 5.

Victoria became popular from her former girl band Spice Girl with their popular hits like Wanna be, Mama, 2 Become 1, Say You’ll Be There, Spice up your life and many more.

Meanwhile, David Beckham who is now at 36 led England’s national team way back 2000 until 2006. He also played for Manchester United and Spain’s Real Madrid before moving to Los Angeles to join the Galaxy in 2007.

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Yao Ming, the Houston Rockets center from China has announced his retirement from the National Basketball Association (NBA), according to various reports on Friday.

Yao Ming is seven-foot six-inch (2.3-metre), an eight-time All-Star, has been plagued by assorted injuries in recent years and missed the entire 2009-10 NBA season after suffering a fractured bone in his left foot.

He played only five games for the Rockets last season before being sidelined on Nov. 10 when he injured his ankle during the first quarter of Houston’s 98-91 loss to the Washington Wizards.

Neither the Rockets nor the NBA were immediately available for comment on Friday.

Yao had cast doubt on his return to the NBA last month when he admitted to the possibility he may not play again because of his ongoing injury problems.

“I don’t know if I would join some champion team in the future,” the China Daily quoted him as saying when asked about leaving a new-look Rockets team. “I don’t even know if I can play again.”

However, Yao said the prospect of playing in front of his baby daughter Amy gave him extra motivation to continue his injury-plagued career in the NBA.

“I wish she could watch me play and even win a championship,” he added. “Not only see through video highlights how her dad played. She is definitely a big motivation for me to continue, although my foot still needs lots of treatment.

“Walking or jogging is okay … but I need to get 80 percent of my strength back to play. I have got only about 30 percent at most now.”

Yao’s five-year contract with the Rockets, valued at $76 million, expired on June 30, with the threat of a lockout also looming.

The 30-year-old has triggered NBA-mania in China since being selected first overall by Houston in the 2002 draft but has been cursed by injury in the United States.

Yao insisted, however, it would be hard to leave the Rockets because of injury or a trade away.

“I have spent the best 10 years of my life playing and living (in Houston),” said the towering All-Star who has averaged 19.0 points and 9.2 rebounds in his NBA career. “That makes it much harder to bid farewell.”

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