SEA Games 2023: Young Azkals bow out of semis contention with loss to Timor Leste
Philippines vs Timor-Leste in the 32nd SEA Games football.
The Philippines ended its hopes of a semifinals berth in the men’s U-22 football competitions of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games after a 3-0 loss to Timor-Leste on Thursday in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Coach Rob Gier’s side never recovered after conceding an opening goal in the first 15 minutes and subsequently being reduced to 10 men after Dennis Chung was sent off, resulting in a stinging defeat at Olympic Stadium in the Cambodian capital.
Timor-Leste also defeated the Philippines in the regional meet for the first time since the 2011 edition was held in Indonesia. The Young Azkals have won the last three meetings.
With just one point in three matches, the Young Azkals are mathematically out of contention with Indonesia on top of Group A with six points, followed by host Cambodia with four points and Myanmar with three points.
Cambodia and Myanmar will face off on May 7 with the result to confirm the Philippines’ early exit.
The Young Azkals wrap up their campaign three days later against Myanmar.
Mouzinho stunned the Philippine side when he scored the first goal for Timor-Leste on a counterattack.
Timor-Leste would keep the lead into the break, before doubling its lead when Ribeiro barely avoided an offside in the 55th. The third goal came from Elias Mesquita entering stoppage time.
