Philippines vs Myanmar in the 32nd SEA Games. –PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM
The Philippines’ campaign in the women’s football competitions of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games got underway on a wrong foot Wednesday following a 1-0 loss to Myanmar in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Win Theingi Tun’s penalty with a minute before stoppage time spelled the difference as the Filipinas were handed defeat inside RCAF Old Stadium in the Cambodian capital.
Coach Alen Stajcic’s side, labeled among the favorites before the tournament began, will now have to play with a sense of urgency in order to secure one of the two semifinal berths in Group A.
The World Cup-bound Filipinas next face Malaysia on Saturday before meeting defending champion Vietnam on May 9.
Vietnam earlier launched its quest for a fourth consecutive gold in a big way with a 3-0 thumping of Malaysia.
Sofia Harrison entangled with Myanmar’s San Thaw Thaw inside the box, prompting match referee Lara Christine Lee to point at the spot.
That allowed Tun to fire the winner past Filipinas goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel, and Myanmar somehow avenged its 2-1 loss to the same team during the bronze medal match of last year’s edition in Vietnam.
The Filipinas had plenty of chances to at least equalize during stoppage time that lasted more than 10 minutes but to no avail as Myanmar picked up the maximum three points.