Up against one of the best teams in the continent, the Philippine Women’s National Football Team fought valiantly but it just was not their evening.
The Malditas gave everything on the pitch in a 0-2 loss to Vietnam, Thursday evening in front of over 2,500 fans at the Biñan Football Stadium in the Women’s Football Competition of the 2019 SEA Games.
A goalless first half saw sniffs at goal from Quinley Quezada and Sara Castañeda. Unfortunately though, in the second half, the Malditas ended up conceding twice at the hands of the Vietnamese.
Midfielder Thai Thi Thao shot past Philippines goalkeeper Inna Palacios to draw first blood for the visitors at the hour mark.
It was a heavy setback for the Malditas. Still, Dimzon’s squad tried to get back into the contest. They even thought they’d equalized in the 72nd minute, only for the referee to disallow it for offside.
Vietnam then sealed their place in the finals of the competition six minutes from fulltime when Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung doubled their advantage.
It was a sorry ending for the Filipinas. Still, all is not lost in their hopes of a podium finish on home soil to cap off their campaign and mark it with a milestone as well.
The Philippines seeks a bronze medal for the first time in its SEA Games history on December 8, 2019, 4:00 PM, against Myanmar at the historic Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
Philippines XI: Palacios (GK), Lim, Long, Rodriguez, Dolino, Bolden, Quezada, Impelido ©, Castañeda, Bernal, Del Campo.
Vietnam XI: Tran Thi Kim Thanh (GK), Chuong Thi Kieu, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung, Huynh Nhu ©, Thai Thi Thao, Pham Hai Yen, Tran Thi Hong Nhung, Pham Thi Tuoi, Duong Thi Van, Nguyen Thi Xuyen, Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy.
