Filipinas end ASEAN football title defense after draw vs Myanmar

MANILA, Philippines, August 14 ------ The Philippine women’s football team suffered an early exit in its ASEAN MSIG Serenity Cup title defense after settling for a draw with Myanmar, 1-1 at the Lạch Tray Stadium in Hai Phong, Vietnam. The Filipinas finished the tournament at third in Group B with four points built on one win, one draw, and one loss.

Only the top two teams in each group advanced to the knockout round. Entering the game, the Filipinas needed to win by at least a two-goal difference to advance to the next round. But Myanmar took control of the game early enough to derail the Philippines’ hopes of repeating its magical 2022 title run.

Myanmar’s captain Win Theingi Tun opened the scoring with a goal in the 33rd minute through a penalty kick following a collision with Philippine goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel. Nina Mathelus answered with a strike in the 71st minute to tie it up at one goal each, but it was merely a consolation, as the Filipinas could not break through Myanmar’s last line of defense to concede to a draw.

The Philippines had chances courtesy of Chandler McDaniel, Quinley Quezada, and Inday Tolentin, but all missed the mark. Myanmar, which topped Group B with seven points after two wins and a draw, will face Group A’s Thailand in the semifinals. Australia’s under-23 squad claimed the second seed in Group B with six points via wins against the Philippines and Timor Leste to book a clash against Group A’s top team, Vietnam.

The Filipinas, who paraded a youthful core, opened the tournament with a rousing 7-0 win against Timor Leste before succumbing to the Aussies, 0-1. The national team will now turn its focus on the Southeast Asian Games in December in Thailand.

Source: rappler.com