At A Glance
- BANGKOK, Thailand – The Philippine men's football team stunned defending champion Indonesia to reach the semifinals of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games for the first time in 34 years just as the women's side took down titlist Vietnam to stay in the final four hunt on Monday, Dec. 8.
BANGKOK, Thailand – The Philippine men’s football team stunned defending champion Indonesia to reach the semifinals of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games for the first time in 34 years just as the women’s side took down titlist Vietnam to stay in the final four hunt on Monday, Dec. 8.
The U22 team banked on a first half goal off a header from Otu Banatao and then fended off any form of comebacks from the Indonesians to claim a sweep of the Group C standings at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai.
By doing so, the Nationals get an outright spot to the semifinals – a stage which the men’s football team last reached way back in the 1991 edition of the games.
Banatao found the back of the net after a throw-in during stoppage time just before the break to follow up its 2-0 opener against Myanmar.
The Nationals will face the top team in Group A or B for an assured silver medal and a shot at the elusive gold.
On the distaff side, the Filipinas bounced back from a 1-0 loss to Myanmar with a crucial 1-0 win over Vietnam.
In danger of suffering an early exit following the loss to the Burmese, the Filipinas showed great resolve and pumped life to their campaign courtesy of a late goal from Mallie Ramirez.
Ramirez scored the all-important goal four minutes into stoppage time off a rebound after Vietnam deflected the initial attempt from midfielder Hali Long.
With the win, the women’s football team is now at the third spot of Group B, catching Vietnam on a 1-1 record. The Vietnamese, however, holds a superior goal difference, allowing them to take the second spot, just behind the still undefeated Myanmar, 2-0.