SEA Games 2025: PH falls to Vietnam on late goals in semis
Philippines vs Vietnam in the SEA Games 2025 men’s football semifinals at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.–PFF PHOTO
BANGKOK—The Philippine men’s U-22 football team suffered a heartbreaking 2-0 loss to Vietnam in the semifinals of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on Monday at Rajamangala Stadium here.
Just as extra time was looming, the Filipino booters saw their dreams of a historic gold shattered when Vietnam broke the ice in the 88th minute courtesy of a header by Le Van Thuan.
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He was able to beat Philippine goalkeeper Gab Guimaraes, who throughout the contest kept the score even with his fine play between the sticks.
Vietnam slammed the door on the Philippines in stoppage time when Nguyen Thanh Nhan bounced a free kick into the far side.
The defeat relegated the Philippines to the bronze medal match on Thursday at the same venue.
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Team Philippines has never reached the podium in men’s football, with its best finish back in the 1991 Manila edition when it placed fourth.
Host Thailand and Malaysia were playing the other semis at presstime.
Coach Garrath McPherson’s side came into the contest with ambitions of making the final of the Games’ centerpiece sport after topping Group C with wins over Myanmar and defending champion Indonesia in Chiang Mai.
