FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT: Kristensen takes lead role in national men’s football team

Filipino-Norwegian forward Bjorn Kristensen shrugs off comparisons to former national team striker Phil Younghusband despite having a great performance in ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup.

Kristensen, 22, said he acknowledges Younghusband’s impact but he wants to make his own path with the national men’s football team.

The Philippines is competing against Thailand in the first leg of the semifinals at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium at press time.

“Phil is a great player, a legend in the Philippines,” said Kristensen, who has four goals in nine appearances for the Philippines.

“I can’t do anything without the team. I need the team to achieve greatness.”

Younghusband stamped his class in the Philippines as its all-time scorer with 52 goals in 108 appearances for the national team.

The Filipino-British striker was part of the Azkals squad that made it to the semifinals of the Mitsubishi Electric Cup in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018.

Kristensen hopes to add up his tally and help the Philippines reach the Mitsubishi Electric Cup final for the first time.

The Nationals have to have a higher score after two legs to advance to the championship round which starts on 2 January.

“I want to score but hopefully not another penalty kick. We just have to win the game and that’s it,” Kristensen said.

So far, Kristensen is the country’s top scorer in the Mitsubishi Electric Cup with two goals in four matches.

He first scored last 12 December after converting a penalty kick in the Philippines’ 1-1 draw against Myanmar at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Last week, he converted another penalty in the Nationals’ 1-0 win over Indonesia at the Manahan Stadium in Surakarta.