The Philippine Women’s Under-19 National Team concluded their journey in the 2023 AFF U-19 Women’s Championship with a 2-1 loss to Myanmar last Saturday at the Jakabaring Athletic Field in Palembang, Indonesia.
This defeat resulted in coach Joyce Landagan’s squad finishing at the bottom of Group C, having failed to secure a single point after also bowing to Thailand, 6-0, last Thursday.
It was a tough tournament for the Filipinas U19, as they were unable to find their rhythm and struggled to make an impact on the scoreboard.
Despite their overall performance, the Philippine team showed signs of promise during their final group stage match.
In the closing moments of the first half, Maegan Alforque delivered a remarkable strike, giving her team a much-needed lead in the 40th minute.
The goal provided a glimmer of hope and injected some positivity into the squad.
Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worse after the halftime break.
Myanmar managed to regroup and stage a comeback, scoring two goals to secure the victory.
Zine Moe Pyae equalized for Myanmar in the 58th minute, shifting the momentum in their favor. Yin Loon Eain then struck the winning goal in the 75th minute, sealing the fate of the match.
With the Philippines out of contention, the focus shifted to the upcoming match between Thailand and Myanmar. Scheduled for Monday evening, this match would determine the final standings in Group C.
If Thailand secures a victory or a draw, they will advance to the next round. On the other hand, Myanmar’s fate hangs in the balance, as they would need to rely on results from other groups if they finish in second place.
A win for Myanmar would secure their spot in the knockout stage without any complications.
It was a challenging tournament for the Filipinas, but they can take away valuable lessons from their experience.
