Two of the Philippines’ national football teams met different results in Indonesia for their respective ASEAN competitions last July 1, 2018 in Indonesia. The Philippine Women’s National Football Team suffered a 0-4 loss at Myanmar’s hands, while the Philippine Men’s Under-19 National Football Team enjoyed a 2-1 victory over Singapore.
Malditas succumb to dominant Myanmar
The Malditas’ hopes of qualifying for the 2018 AFF Women’s Championship knockout round took a big blow when they tasted a 0-4 setback against a tough Myanmar team. The Burmese only needed two minutes of play to break the deadlock when Naw Arlo Wer Phaw shot past Philippines goalie Inna Palacios.
To say Palacios and her backline had a long afternoon is an understatement, as Khin Moe Wai doubled Myanmar’s advantage at the 23rd minute. The forward broke the Filipinas’ offside line and unleashed a powerful left shot to seal the game.
There was no respite for the Filipinas in the second half, when the Burmese made it a rout four minutes after the restart. Win Theingi Tun slalomed past the Philippines defense to clinch Myanmar’s third goal, while July Kyaw capped off the rout a minute in the 59th minute in the Jakabaring Stadium in Palembang.
The next Group B match for Buda Bautista’s wards is Singapore on July 3, 7:00 PM at the Jakabaring Stadium.
Tacardon brace lifts U-19 squad above Singapore
If the Malditas’ opener was full of agony, then the complete opposite was true for coach Reiji Hirata’s boys. Fidel Tacardon’s two goals handed the Philippines a 2-1 dream start at Singapore’s expense in the 2018 AFF U-19 Men’s Championship.
The Singaporeans had most of the chances in the match, but their lack of finishing proved to be their demise at the Filipinos’ hands. The Philippines’ backline held its own admirably and Tacardon, a current UP Fighting Maroon, shot past the Singaporean goalkeeper to hand his side the lead in the 19th minute.
It was late in the second half when the Singaporeans finally broke through the Filipinos’ goal. Muhammad Syahadat Masnawi’s poacher’s goal in the 78th minute looked to change the side for Singapore, but there was another twist to the plot.
In virtually the last play of the game, Tacardon dribbled his way past the Singapore defenders and shot from close range to hand the Philippines a big win at the Gelora Joko Samudro Stadium in Gresik.
Another tough Group A fixture awaits the Philippines in the form of Vietnam. That game will be on July 3, 3:30 PM at the Gelora Delta Stadium in Sidoarjo.
