The Philippine men’s football team moved closer to a historic first-ever finals appearance in the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup after a stunning 2-1 victory over Thailand in the semifinal's first leg at Rizal Memorial Stadium on Friday.
Enrique Linares delivered the decisive moment in the dying seconds of stoppage time, heading in the winning goal off Paul Tabinas’ pass from a Zico Bailey free kick. The dramatic finish sent the home crowd of over 7,000 fans into a frenzy, marking the Philippines’ first win against Thailand since the 1972 Jakarta Cup.
Coach Albert Capellas’ squad now heads into the second leg on Monday at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium with the advantage. A draw will be enough to secure a historic finals berth, though a loss by two goals would dash their hopes.
The Philippines initially took the lead in the 21st minute with a strike from Sandro Reyes, only for Suphanan Bureerat to equalize for Thailand during a counterattack. The Philippine defense, bolstered by goalkeeper Quincy Kammeraad and substitute Scott Woods, held firm against relentless Thai attacks until Linares' late heroics.
The result also marks a milestone for the Philippines in the tournament, which began in 1996, breaking a winless streak against Thailand in the competition.
The second leg will determine whether the Azkals can achieve what has long eluded them—a place in the championship match.
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