Chung to the Rescue

Dennis Chung (center, shirtless) of the Philippines is mobbed by teammates after scoring against Cambodia during their first round Group A football match at the 2019 SEA Games (Southeast Asian Games) in Manila on November 25, 2019. (Photo by Ted ALJIBE / AFP)

Teenager Dennis Chung struck a late equalizer as the Philippines salvaged a 1-1 draw with Cambodia on Monday night in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

The 18-year-old Chung, who plays for Zehlendorf, came off the bench to fire home the goal that lifted the spirits of the Filipino crowd at Rizal Memorial Stadium and saved the Young Azkals’ blushes.

The result paved the way for a four-team tie in Group A with Malaysia and Myanmar also battling to a 1-1 stalemate early Monday.

Keo Sokhpeng opened the scoring for the Cambodians with a 41st minute strike as the Filipinos got off to an uninspired start.

But coach Goran Milojevic’s side returned to the pitch with renewed confidence after the restart, slowly but surely imposing their will on the Cambodians.

Skipper Stephan Schrock, sub Christian Rontini and Dylan De Bruycker all came close to leveling the score, but it wasn’t until the third minute of stoppage time when Chung rose to the occasion.

Schrock played a quick combination with Yrick Gallantes, who teed up Chung to fire past Keo Soksela. The crowd of almost 3,000 exploded in delight as the Young Azkals finally got on the board after a nervy start.

The Filipinos, however, have their work cut out for them as they look for their first win on Wednesday this time against Myanmar, which took the lead against Malaysia only to fade late in the match.

Meanwhile, as if facing tough opposition is not enough, the Philippine women’s football team has to deal with the lack of food just a day before its campaign starts at Biñan Football Stadium.

The Malditas, looking to give the country its first medal in the event since 1985, open their bid against powerhouse Myanmar on Tuesday night with the winner clinching a semifinal berth.

The buildup to the match, however, has been far from ideal for coach Let Dimzon’s team which was taken by surprise by the quality and quantity of the food served at its official hotel.

“I’m not sure what are the arrangements with the Phisgoc, but the quality and quantity of food is not enough,” Dimzon said at the pretournament press conference. “This morning, there was not enough rice and kikiam and egg. There are no nutrients. This is an international competition, it should be international course. Maybe Phisgoc didn’t have enough budget.”

The food problem was just the latest challenge the women’s national football team faced. On Monday, the team lamented that it also met difficulties with accommodations.

In other men’s competition, Vietnam cruised to an emphatic 6-0 victory over Brunei.

Striker Ha Duc Chinh fired four goals as the Vietnamese rolled to maximum points at the start of Group B play at Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna.

Trieu Viet Hung and Nguen Trong Hung were also on the scoresheet as Vietnam imposed its class on a Brunei side that trailed just 0-2 at halftime.