Regional football glory proves elusive once again for the Philippines, as the Women’s and Men’s Under-22 teams failed to win their respective penultimate assignments in the 2017 South East Asian Games in Malaysia.
Both squads needed a win to keep their medal hopes alive, but both were left reeling by the gulf in class between them and the opposition.
PWNFT falls to dominant Myanmar
The Philippine Women’s National Football Team were simply overwhelmed by Myanmar, as the former succumbed to a 0-6 loss at the UM Arena Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
Myanmar’s Khin Moe Wai needed just four minutes to get on the scoresheet when she eluded the Filipina defenders to put the ball in the back of the net. Things got worse for the Philippines as Myanmar then scored thrice in the span of just three minutes.
Win Theingi Tun took advantage of a good ball in the Philippines’ box to double the lead in the 16th minute, while Yee Yee Oo headed in a cross from the right flank two minutes later. It was a similar story in the 19th minute as Naw Ar Lo Wer Phaw capitalized on another good pass to hand Myanmar a 4-0 lead at halftime.
It was a similar story in the second half as Myanmar were still in control of the game. Wai got her hattrick in the game’s final moments, when she headed the ball from a corner and calmly put the ball past substitute goalie Inna Palacios for goal number sixth in stoppage time.
A 0-6 loss was a harsh slap for the PWNT. After their big win against Malaysia on opening day, the Filipinas have now suffered back-to-back losses, which all but rules them out of medal contention, regardless if they win their last game vs Thailand by at least eight goals on Thursday, 4:00 PM.
First half Thailand show quells Men’s Under-22 team
Two first half goals were all that Thailand needed to dispatch the Philippine Men’ Under-22 National Team at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium in Selayang.
It was the second loss of the Philippines in the competition, ruling them out of the knockout round. Ateneo striker Jayvey Gayoso came close to breaking the deadlock, only for the post to deny him a certain goal.
Things then escalated quickly, as Montree Promsawat struck first after 28th minutes when he evaded his marker to head the ball past Rey Joyel and give the Thais first blood.
Any defiance shown by the Filipinos after going a goal down was extinguished, as another case of bad marking allowed Sittichok Kannoo to double Thailand’s lead in first half stoppage time.
Thailand sought to add to their tally after the break, although the Philippines defended better. It ended with the Men’s Under-22 succumbing to a 0-2 defeat against Thailand, with the former perhaps wondering what could have been had they attacked more.
With that result, the Philippines’ game against Timor Leste on Thursday, 4:00 PM, will be nothing more but about pride. It shall be played at the UM Arena Stadium.
