PH football team inches closer to ASEAN Championship Final.

PH Football Team Defeats Thailand for First Time in 52 Years, Inches Closer to ASEAN Championship Final

MANILA – In a match that will be etched in Philippine football history, the men’s national team pulled off a dramatic 2-1 victory over powerhouse Thailand on Friday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

The win gives the Philippines a crucial edge in the first leg of the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup semifinals, marking their first-ever triumph against Thailand in 52 years.

The 7,116 fans in attendance erupted into a frenzy when Kike Linares delivered the decisive goal deep into stoppage time, capping off a thrilling contest. With this historic win, the Philippines stands just one match away from their first ASEAN Championship final appearance, with the second leg set to take place on Monday in Bangkok.

Rising star Sandro Reyes set the tone early for the Philippines, firing a stunning left-footed strike in the 21st minute to give the home team a 1-0 lead.

However, the War Elephants struck back just before halftime. Suphanan Bureerat’s clinical finish in the 45th minute tied the match at 1-1, sending a reminder of Thailand’s lethal counterattacks.

The second half saw a battle of nerves. Thailand’s Suphanat Mueanta came dangerously close to breaking the deadlock, hitting the crossbar just minutes after the restart. Meanwhile, the Philippines’ appeal for a penalty was waved off after Bjorn Kristensen was brought down at the edge of the box.

As the game seemed destined for a draw, the Filipinos found their moment. Off a well-placed free kick by Zico Bailey, Paul Tabinas headed the ball into Linares’ path, and the midfielder’s header found the back of the net. The stadium erupted in jubilation as the Philippines secured a historic win against their regional rivals.

This victory ends a 52-year winless streak against Thailand, the last win dating back to the Jakarta Cup in 1972. For head coach Albert Capellas, the result was proof of the team’s resilience and passion.

“I knew, we knew that we will have our chances. And we knew when the moment was there we should grab it. Also we knew it won’t be easy at all. It has been very difficult…. I think the Philippines deserved to win the semifinals for all that had been done in the games,” said Capellas.

The win also snapped Thailand’s perfect record in the tournament, adding more significance to the achievement. Thailand had swept their group-stage matches, showcasing their usual dominance until Friday’s upset.

The second leg of the semifinal will take place at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, where the Filipinos will face an uphill battle. A draw or a win in Thailand will secure their spot in the finals. The winner of this semifinal will face either Vietnam or Singapore, with Vietnam holding a 2-0 advantage in their own semifinal tie.