MANILA, Philippines – When the Philippine Azkals made history in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers on Tuesday night, they did so in the presence of an exceptional crowd at the grandstand of the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Over 4,600 fans packed the grandstand, with the always boisterous Ultras Filipinas leading the way. The cheers began the moment the Azkals entered the pitch, rose in volume every time they had a chance to score, and only very briefly dwindled when the visiting Tajikistan squad took a 1-0 lead in the 64th minute off a penalty.

Yet the sight of the home team going down only served to fire up the fans, who ramped up the intensity in the final 25 minutes of the match in an effort to push the Azkals. Their faith was rewarded when Kevin Ingreso equalized in the 74th minute, heading in a cross from Iain Ramsey.

The roar of the crowd was, quite simply, deafening.

GOAL AZKALS!

Kevin Ingreso scores a header off a cross from Iain Ramsay! We're all tied up!

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From that point until the final whistle, there was no let-up. The fans were on their feet for the final 15 minutes of the match, as members of the Ultras Filipinas goaded them to cheer even louder. When Azkals skipper Phil Younghusband converted a penalty in the 91st minute to cap the 2-1 win, the atmosphere at the grandstand could only be described as euphoric.

GOAL AZKALS!

Phil Younghusband's 50th international goal virtually sends the @TheAzkalsPH to the #AFCQ2019!

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And when the final whistle sounded, the hair-raising chant began to open up: "Asian Cup, Asian Cup, Asian Cup!"

"It was outstanding today," Ingreso said after the game. "They pushed us so much forward. Even when we were down 1-nil, we knwe that they were going to push us."

"It was a big factor tonight," he said of the crowd.

Azkals coach Thomas Dooley was admittedly worried that they would be playing in front of a small audience, when they saw that the grandstand had yet to be filled with 30 minutes to go before kick-off. But fans kept coming, with some arriving later in the first half. By the time the whistle blew to open the second half, it was a standing room only situation at the grandstand.

"During the game, I was listening a couple of times and looking at the fans. It feels great. Can you imagine if the whole stadium would be like that?" said Dooley.

Only tickets to the grandstand were sold for the game against Tajikistan, which was billed as the biggest match in the history of Philippine football.

"It helps the team," Dooley said. "It gives them a little bit more energy, a little bit more power for another 10, 15 yards that they have to sprint. It's just a great experience for the players."

Younghusband, who scored his 50th international goal in the match, was especially thankful for the fans' continued support when the Azkals went down by a goal.

"It was unbelievable," said Younghusband. "That's what we have hoped for."

"Just looking up, when we were 1-nil down, and they were cheering for us – for every tackle, every header, every shot," he said. "That was the difference for us coming back."

"All the players are so appreciative of everyone who watched and supported, even the ones at home," added the Azkals captain. "They gave us the push and gave us the added confidence to come back."

The celebration lasted well after the final whistle, and the Azkals were showered with adoration as they took a victory lap. It was, after all, a match to remember not just for the team but for every single person who packed the grandstand on Tuesday night.

"I want to celebrate," said Dooley after the match. "We have the biggest success in the history of Philippine football."

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