The Philippine men’s youth football team dropped out from the 2023 AFF under-23 championship Tuesday evening, absorbing a 0-1 stunner from defending champions Vietnam in Rayong, Thailand.
Viettel’s youth standouts shined on the counterattack as teenager Nguyen Huu Tuan scored the winning goal early in the game with a 17th minute strike off a right cross from fellow teener Nguyen Dang Duong.
The young Azkals had a number of chances to equalize in the second half but poor shooting and controversial non-calls hobbled the team’s ambition of a deep tournament run.
In the 46th minute, defender Joshua Meriño misfired a 1v1 strike against Huu Tuan from within the six-yard box off a left corner kick.
The action heated up inside the Vietnam’s penalty area in the 55th minute as midfielder Dennis Chung was meted with a yellow card after falling on the legs of Nguyen Duc Viet, despite Chung being tackled on his legs by goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan.
Denmark-based Jacob Maniti’s on-target free kick from 30 yards was then saved by Quan in the 69th minute and four minutes later, Meriño was tackled by Quan inside the penalty area while the latter gathered a long throw.
Vietnam enters the semifinals with six points while the Philippines afforded only a point after a disappointing 2-2 draw against Laos last Friday.
In Ninoy Aquino day action Monday, league leaders Manila Digger and Kaya-Iloilo settled in a goalless draw in PFF Women’s League action in Carmona, Cavite.
In the first game, the University of the Philippines (UP) scored three goals in the first half, which was enough to stave off University of Santo Tomas, 3-2, for the second win of the Lady Maroons.
Over at UP Diliman, host UP Fighting Maroons nipped defending UAAP champions Far Eastern University (FEU), 2-1, courtesy of a late 88th minute goal by newcomer Cholo Aguilar, who went past his defender and sank the winner off a long ball by Rain Castro.
It was the second straight Ang Liga win for the Fighting Maroons, who are now on top of the table after a 1-0 win against Mapua Malayan Colleges (MMC) in their opening fixture
“We were lucky to get a goal but the team really hustled to get that,” said Maroon goalkeeper Ryan Tiambeng.
The win came despite the Fighting Maroons playing in Cebu the day before against current PFL runner-up Dynamic Herb Cebu.
In the other Ang Liga games, Dominic Furia score the game winner in the 90+5th minute to give debuting San Beda University its opening win, 3-2, against University of Batangas while Ateneo de Manila University conquered MMC, 3-1.
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