"We are happy with the win" | Dooley, Younghusband elated after great Azkals win to open ACQ

It was all smiles for Phil Younghusband and Thomas Dooley when they met the scribes after the match.

By Kevin Estrada

MANILA -- The Philippines are off the a spectacular start to their quest in qualifying for the Asian Cup after smashing a poor Nepal side last night to take the Group F lead after matchday one.

And that bodes well for manager Thomas Dooley and the brace-scoring skipper Phil Younghusband when they met the Filipino footballing press after the match at nearby Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

"Obviously, we are happy with the three points, that's what we wanted," the World Cup veteran said about the hosts' performance, adding that they have played the way that they should in a 4-1 rout of Nepal.

"We could have had more goals, whether it comes down on goal difference in the end. But the most important thing was getting the win and making sure that we played well," said the former Chelsea product, in which his brace get him five goals closer to a milestone half-century in which no other Filipino booter has come close to that.

Skipper Phil Younghusband had a very great night to inch himself closer to a national footballing milestone, and that includes a well deserved revenge on Kiran Limbu from the spot.

A lot of things were on the skipper's mind when he asked about missing his first spot-kick and how he got his revenge on Nepal custodian Kiran Limbu on the second.

"It's important to take next one and score as soon as possible right after you miss the penalty, because that will play a great part of your mind until you do score," said the country's leading goalscorer who also made his record 87th appearance for the country, the last fifteen of those as captain.

He has also added that having a high-calibre teammate in Javier Patiño made the game more easier for him.

"We even had a good relationship off the field," Younghusband said, revealing that his better use of English was the secret to a good chemistry in the frontline with the Henan forward.

Despite the result, the lone goal conceded before half-time infuriated the American gaffer despite being one man up for the good half-hour of the first half.

"That's why I'm a little bit upset at halftime, because we have to have urgency in our defence," Dooley added, noting that they are also scouting Tajikistan play away at Yemen ahead of their match-up in June, as he concluded that those four-match winless run happen for a reason, and it was a good way to snap that unwanted run with a statement game.

Follow him on Twitter: @KevinLEstrada