Philippines suffers extra time heartbreaker to Thailand in Asean Cup

FILE–The Philippine men’s football team during a Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup match. The Filipinos lost to Thailand in an away semifinals game on Monday. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net

The Philippine men’s football team’s dream of getting to the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup final for the first time at the expense of defending champion Thailand was shattered Monday after going down 3-1 in the second leg that went into extra time at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium for a 4-3 defeat on aggregate.

With four minutes left before the end of the second 15-minute extra period and a penalty shootout looming, Suphanat Muaenta came through with the winning header that allowed the War Elephants to turn the tables on the Filipino side, which took a dramatic 2-1 victory in the first leg at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Coach Albert Capellas’ squad will exit the tournament filled with agonizing-yet-thrilling moments that led to the Philippines’ first semifinal appearance since 2018, and its greatest chance at reaching the pinnacle of Southeast Asia’s biggest competition.

READ: Rare win over War Elephants put PH booters on cusp of historic Asean Cup final

But the Philippines didn’t go down without a fight despite Thailand getting its two goals courtesy of an opener from Peeradol Chamratsamee in the 37th minute, which didn’t come without controversy.

Peeradol’s goal came off a pass from Seksan Ratsee’s sliding cross, though replays showed that the ball was already out of play, and Japanese referee Kimura Hiroyuki didn’t signal for use of VAR technology to see if the goal should be disallowed.

Patrik Gustavsson put the War Elephants ahead on aggregate in the 53rd, a goal that seemed like a massive blow for the Philippine side.

Philippines’ Bjorn Kristensen during a match against Thailand in the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

That is until Bjorn Kristensen, the team’s top scorer of the tournament, came off the bench to deliver a stunning strike in the 84th that put the semifinal tie back on level terms on aggregate. It was his third goal of the Asean Championship, but the first other than a penalty attempt.

A chance to go ahead came so close for the Philippines before the end of normal time, but Amani Aguinaldo’s two attempts and one from Scott Woods were either blocked by Thailand goalkeeper Patiwat Khammai or the ball rattling the crossbar.

READ: Philippines stuns Indonesia, advances to Asean Cup semifinals

Active roles by Michael Kempter, Zico Bailey and goalkeeper Quincy Kammeraad kept the match even, until Thailand got its chance with Suphanat’s goal.

Thailand, seeking a third straight title, five out of the last six and a record-extending eight overall, will play Vietnam in a two-legged final set Jan. 2 and 5.

The Philippines, meanwhile, will now focus on its next mission of preparing for the start of the Asian Cup Qualifiers, with several key players based overseas expected to resume national team duties.

The campaign got off to a jittery start 18 days prior when the Philippines had to secure equalizing goals from Kristensen and Sandro Reyes to snatch a pair of 1-1 draws against Myanmar at home and Laos on the road.

READ: Asean Cup: PH booters rue this one that got away

Jarvey Gayoso’s goal nearly led to an upset win over Vietnam at Rizal Memorial, only for the two-time winners to salvage a 1-1 tie that nearly put the Philippine semis bid in peril.

But a courageous performance in Surakarta, especially with Kammeraad taking the place of an injured Patrick Deyto, resulted in a 1-0 win over a young Indonesia squad and a semis date with Thailand.

Hopes of reaching the final came when the 2-1 victory started off with a Reyes strike in the first half and Kike Linares scoring a dramatic late header that put the Thais behind in the tie.

Making the dream into reality was not realized in Bangkok, but not without a courageous stand.