Philippine Men’s National Football Team rising star Bjørn Kristensen couldn’t hide his pride as his squad came within inches of making history, pushing defending champions Thailand to the limit in a thrilling two-legged semifinal at the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024.
The 22-year-old Filipino-Norwegian forward finished as the Philippines’ top scorer in the tournament with three goals.
He opened his account with a penalty against Myanmar, followed by another spot-kick against Indonesia, which helped the Philippines secure a spot in the final four for the first time in six years.
However, it was his final goal that left the most lasting impression — an 84th-minute strike from the edge of the box in the second leg against Thailand at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.
This goal gave the Filipinos a glimmer of hope to reach the finals for the first time in history.
Unfortunately, that hope was not realized, but the match and the team’s overall performance made football the most exciting sporting event in the country this holiday season.
“We did fight a lot,” Kristensen said. “It’s a very strong team. As we know, they’re ranked 50 places above us in the FIFA rankings.
“I think we have to be proud of this (performance). We gave them a good fight and (we had) a really good campaign also. We are very proud.”
(C) Pam Puri
Since his debut in the 2024 Merdeka Tournament, the former Norway Under-20 player has scored five goals in just 11 international appearances for the Philippines.
Alongside teammates like Sandro Reyes, Santi Rublico, Alex Monis, Adrian Ugelvik, and Zico Bailey, Kristensen is part of a young core that aims to bring success back to a national team program that had struggled since its participation in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
For Kristensen, the defeat against seven-time ASEAN champions Thailand should serve as a catalyst for a new era in Philippine football.
The long-awaited change is on the horizon, and the team’s successful run in the tournament has given fans something to look forward to.
“I think it was the youngest team in this semifinal round, so it’s a lot to take with us. We start again in March for the Asian Cup qualifiers,” he said.
“I think Filipino football is growing, and a lot can come from this. Of course, we have to learn from this.
“It’s a big game, and none of us have been in this kind of situation before (except) maybe Amani (Aguinaldo) and the older guys, but it’s a good experience for us young people,” he closed.
