It was a result that perhaps summed up the Philippine Under-22 Men’s National Football Team’s stint in the 2019 AFF Under-22 Youth Championship.
With only pride at stake, the Philippines succumbed to a 0-1 defeat at the hands of Timor Leste at the National Olympic Stadium at Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
This is the Filipinos’ third straight defeat in the competition. They drop to last place in Group A, with no wins and a goal difference of minus-5. Timor Leste finishes in third place with 3 points, while Vietnam and Thailand head to the semi-finals with 7 points each; Thailand end in second place due to an inferior goals tally.
Ateneo de Manila University’s Jae Arcilla started as the goalkeeper in the contest instead of San Beda University’s Michael Asong. And the Blue Eagle had to be alert, because Timor Leste constantly bombarded his goal.
The Philippines managed to escape the first period unscathed. They should have even had a goal, only for Mark Winhoffer to fluff his shot when he was one-on-one with Timor Leste goalie Aderito Fernandes. The miss was a wasted opportunity for the young Azkalsl as midfielder Mouzinho De Lima then scored a goal from close range in the 64th minute to hand his side the lead.
Already down a goal and facing the prospect of the winless tournament, the Philippines mustered everything to clinch that equalizer. The Filipinos had a great chance to level the contest right at the end, but JB Borlongan’s shot from a tight angle was dealt with routinely by Fernandes.
Philippines XI: Arcilla (GK), Ebarle, Limbo ©, Borlongan, Lapad, De Bruycker, Winhoffer, Clarino, Sanciangco, Baguio.
Timor Leste XI: Fernandes (GK), Gama, De Lima, Alberto, Moreira, Portela, Gusmao, Da Costa, Goncalves, Viegas, Belo.
