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Football: Kevin Ingreso struggles for words in unbelievable turnaround for Azkals

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/03/27/ingreso-2018-2018-032718.jpg"/><figcaption>Kevin Ingreso (14) scored the equalizer against Tajikistan. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines—Kevin Ingreso could not find the words to properly express his feelings after a roller-coaster of a performance for the Philippine Azkals in their AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Tajikistan on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.In a span of 10 minutes, the 25-year-old midfielder went from goat to hero in what turned out to be a 2-1 triumph for the Philippine men&#x27;s national football team — a victory that sent the Filipinos to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/27/18/football-asian-cup-not-50th-goal-is-what-matters-most-to-phil-younghusband">Football: Asian Cup, not 50th goal, is what matters most to Phil Younghusband</a></li>	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/03/27/18/history-for-ph-football-as-azkals-beat-tajikistan-to-advance-to-asian-cup">History for PH football, as Azkals beat Tajikistan to advance to Asian Cup</a></li></ul>It was Ingreso who committed the hard foul on Tajikistan&#x27;s Davronov Nuriddin inside the box, giving the visitors a penalty that Nazarov Akhtam coolly converted in the 64th minute.Just 10 minutes later, however, Ingreso made up for his blunder by heading in a cross from Iain Ramsay to equalize, sending the crowd at the Rizal Memorial into pandemonium.&quot;I actually couldn&#x27;t believe it,&quot; said Ingreso, who was named man of the match. &quot;It&#x27;s not often I score a goal with my head.&quot;&quot;I was crying. The tears came out,&quot; he acknowledged.Ingreso was understandably hard on himself after committing the error that caused the Philippines to trail 1-0, but his teammates were there to boost his spirits.&quot;My teammates pushed me up,&quot; he said.&quot;The players were telling me that they knew I have character and I stepped forward, tried to do my best and made it even.&quot;Asked to describe how he felt at the moment, Ingreso was virtually speechless.&quot;I cannot describe my feelings right now,&quot; he said. &quot;I think it takes a few weeks to let it sink in, to believe what we achieved.&quot;The one thing he knew for sure was that it was a well-deserved victory for the Azkals, who fought hard for 90 minutes and showed no signs of quitting even after falling behind.And it was Ingreso, who went through a roller-coaster of emotions throughout the game, who exemplified the grit of the squad.&quot;I was the lucky one,&quot; said Ingreso. &quot;I was in the right spot when Iain crossed the ball in.&quot;&quot;We made history today for Philippine football,&quot; he also said. &quot;Everyone here, in the pitch, around the pitch — together we are all Filipinos . . . This is an achievement for all the Filipinos around the world.&quot;(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.)

In a 10-minute span, the Azkals midfielder went from goat to hero in what turned out to be a 2-1 triumph for the Philippine men's national football team.

In a 10-minute span, the Azkals midfielder went from goat to hero in what turned out to be a 2-1 triumph for the Philippine men's national football team.

Football: Kevin Ingreso struggles for words in unbelievable turnaround for Azkals

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Football: Kevin Ingreso struggles for words in unbelievable turnaround for Azkals

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 27, 2018 11:22 PM PHT

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Updated March 28, 2018 02:47 AM PHT

Read More:

AFC Cup

Philippine football

Philippine Azkals

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