The Philippine Men’s National Football Team learned its lesson and did not take things lightly against minnow team Brunei, repulsing the tiny Bornean country, 5-1, in the 2022 AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup Friday evening at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Debutante Sebastian Rasmussen subbed in for tournament leading scorer Kenshiro Daniels in the second half and scored a brace to lead the Azkals to their first win of the tournament, three days after dropping a 2-3 squeaker against world number 177 Cambodia in Phnom Penh.

The 20-year-old Danish Superliga standout scored his first goal in the 51st minute with a counterattacking goal off an interception and assist from left back Audie Menzi for a commanding 4-0 lead.

The goal came a minute after the maiden point of Ilonggo left-winger Janjan Melliza, who scored a direct strike from top-left off a Rasmussen cross.

Unfazed, the Hornets found the back of the net in the 70th minute with a knee strike from Razimie Ramili off a short corner play.

It was a historic goal for Brunei as Ramili scored the Hornets’ first AFF Championship goal since Irwan Mohammad’s strike against the Philippines in 1996.

But it was proven to be a consolation goal for Brunei as Rasmussen hit the final nail with a strike from center box in the 88th minute off a well-played buildup from center field.

In the first half, starting forward Kenshiro Daniels scored off a running attack in the seventh minute, catching a long ball from Pocholo Bugas and running past Wafi Aminuddin for his third goal in the tournament.

Midfielder Sandro Reyes then scored his maiden international goal in the 12th minute with a direct left-footed strike from top center off a Mark Hartmann assist.

The win and the score line places the Azkals at an idle second place with a +3 goal difference.

Thailand leads Group A with a 5-0 opening win against Brunei last Tuesday.

The Azkals came from a disastrous loss in Phnom Penh against a much-improved Cambodian squad coached by Japanese superstar Keisuke Honda.

The Angkor Warriors though dropped its second group game in Jakarta as Indonesia debuted with a 2-1 win.

Egy Maulana scored early in the 7th minute but an 18-yard header by defender Saret Krya equalized the score.

The winner came in the 35th minute with a counterattack by Witan Sulaeman.

The loss dislodged Cambodia to fourth place with a zero goal difference.

The Azkals will next meet defending champion Thailand on Monday in Bangkok.

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