PH men’s football team loses to Thailand in King’s Cup

The Philippine men’s football team in action in the King’s Cup in Thailand. –HANDOUT PHOTO

The Philippine men’s football team equalized in the second half but wound up absorbing a 3-1 defeat to host Thailand in their rain-drenched King’s Cup match Friday at Tinsulanon Stadium in Songkhla.

Bjorn Kristensen tied it up for the Philippines past the hour mark, but Suphanat Mueanta found the back of the net twice which propelled Thailand to the final against Syria.

Coach Albert Capellas lost his debut appearance calling the shots as the Filipino footballers were relegated to a third place match with Tajikistan on Monday at the same venue.

READ: Early test for Capellas system as PH tackles Thailand

It will serve as a rematch of their matchup from a month earlier in the Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where the Philippines battled Tajikistan to a scoreless tie at full time before losing on penalties.

The setback kept the Philippines winless in its last 10 matches, losing nine and drawing once in that stretch.

Gerrit Holtmann made his much-awaited return in a Philippine shirt and was placed in the starting lineup in a bid to make good on Capellas’ desire to be more on the attacking side.

READ: Capellas new man in charge of men’s football squad 

No goals were scored after the first half which was delayed for almost an hour due to the heavy downpour that left the Tinsulanon pitch flooded.

Thailand star Chanathip Songkrasin put the home side ahead by producing the opener in the 53rd minute before Kristensen delivered his first international goal for the Philippines.

Kristensen got the ball off a throw-in and fired a left-footed shot past Thailand goalkeeper Patiwat Khammai to help the Philippines draw level in the 63rd.

But the scoreline lasted just five minutes as Suphanat put Thailand back in front before adding a second in the 88th, two minutes before stoppage time, after the Philippines was left with 10 men with Amani Aguinaldo’s straight red card.