Philippines crashes out of Fifa World Cup Qualifiers

Philippines vs Vietnam in the Fifa World Cup qualifiers My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Philippines bowed out of contention in the Fifa World Cup Qualifiers after conceding a stoppage time goal for a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Vietnam Thursday at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi.

Pham Tuan Hai scored the winner for the home side with two minutes before the final whistle as the Philippines fell short after taking a surprise opening goal from Patrick Reichelt midway in the second half and producing the equalizer near the end of normal time courtesy of Kevin Ingreso.

Coach Tom Saintfiet’s side was eliminated after staying at the bottom of Group F with one point in five matches going into its final assignment on Tuesday against Indonesia at Jakarta’s Bung Karno Stadium.

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The Filipino footballers, who came into the match needing a win to stay alive, were subsequently relegated to the third round of qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup.

Saintfiet fielded five debutants in the starting lineup, namely Zico Bailey, Scott Woods, Dylan Demuynck, Alex Monis and Adrian Ugelvik to join Reichelt, Neil Etheridge, Ingreso, Michael Baldisimo, Jesper Nyholm and Santi Rublico.

Hopes of a new version of the “Miracle in Hanoi” authored by the national team then called the Azkals in 2010 came in the 62nd when Reichelt scored on a counterattack that put the Philippines up.

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Reichelt, who produced his 16th international goal, found the net after he and Bailey each missed a chance to score in the first half.

But the lead was shortlived and Vietnam equalized three minutes courtesy of Nguyen Tien Linh, who struck an empty-netter, before the same player produced a brace with a 76th minute header to put the host in front.

Ingreso tied things up in the 89th for the Philippines, scoring a left-footed attempt from close range, giving the visitors a chance to snatch a tie as a consolation, only for Vietnam to deny them a chance to share the spoils on Tuan Hai’s goal.