MANILA, Philippines—It was only fitting that in the biggest match in Philippine football history, the country's greatest goal-scorer would put his stamp on the game.

Phil Younghusband entered Tuesday's match against Tajikistan having scored 49 international goals for the Philippine Azkals. He was already the leading goal-scorer in the history of the Philippines, but another one would put him in rarefied air among footballers.

But the veteran striker was insistent that he was more concerned about getting a favorable team result, rather than scoring his 50th goal. The Azkals needed just a draw against Tajikistan in order to advance to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

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"The 50th goal can wait for another time," Younghusband said on Monday.

As it turned out, Younghusband got them both – a historic 50th goal and a massive victory that sent the Azkals to the Asian Cup for the first time ever.

The match was already tied at 1-1 in the 90th minute, courtesy of Kevin Ingreso's header in the 74th that served as an equalizer. That result would have been enough, but the Azkals got a chance to put the cherry on the sundae when Tajikistan got called for a handball inside the box.

There was no doubt that it would be Younghusband who would take the penalty. And as he had done so many times before, the Azkals captain coolly, confidently converted from the spot, giving the Azkals a 2-1 lead and all but securing the victory.

It was an emotional moment for the team and the more than 4,600 fans that packed the grandstand at Rizal Memorial Football Stadium. Afterward, Ingreso said of the team captain: "He knows what he's doing. I was sure when he scored that we're going to the Asian Cup."

Coach Thomas Dooley said Younghusband's feat virtually made the result "perfect." "Everything went right," he beamed.

But Younghusband sought to downplay the significance of his 50th goal, instead putting the spotlight on the achievement of the team.

"For me, the feeling of going to the Asian Cup, that's what matters to me," he said.

"Like I said – if it came from this game or in 10 games' time, that was not on my mind," Younghusband said of goal No. 50. "It was about getting the win. If we'd won with my own goal, that meant more for me."

"To have the feeling at the same time makes it more special."

More than scoring his 50th international goal, Younghusband focused on the remarkable heart the Azkals showed in the game. The Philippine team trailed 1-0 in the 64th minute, when Ingreso gave up a penalty.

"When they scored their first goal, I think that spurred us to play our best football, because we knew we needed to attack, we needed to score," Younghusband said.

"It showed the spirit of the Filipino people – the fighting spirit," he stressed. "Even when we're down, we can bounce back. I think we showed it and typified it today."

With the result, the Azkals finished on top of Group F with 12 points, and punched their ticket to the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates on January 5 to February 1, 2019.

(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.)