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Mon 10 February 2025

ASEAN Championship: Kike to the rescue as Philippines beats Thailand for 1st semis win

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by Kevin Estrada

 

MANILA – The Philippine Men’s National Football Team finally got through a brick wall on its fifth semifinal appearance in the ASEAN Championship, as it secured a dramatic 2-1 first leg shocker over two-time defending champions Thailand at Rizal Memorial Stadium on December 27, 2024.

It looked as though the tie looked set for an even affair heading into the return leg in Rajamangala on Rizal Day, but Enrique Linares broke through the Thailand defense to snuck in a 95th minute header to put Albert Capellas’ side with a massive advantage for the very first time in the last four.

“I’m very happy for the players, they never give up,” said the Spanish gaffer.

Not only it was the first win over the War Elephants in 52 years, but also it was the first win over them in the tournament since it began in 1996.

Sandro Reyes first sent the 7,116-strong crowd in euphoria with his left-footed curler in the 21st minute, only for Thailand to equalize just at the stroke of halftime when Suphanan Bureerat latched on a Patrick Gustavsson cross on a counter.

There were tense moments for the Filipino defense as it was tested multiple times at the restart, most notably when Suphanat Mueanta only got denied by the bar just two minutes in.

Quincy Kammeraad made the most of his maiden start, and although not getting a clean sheet, he made himself big in front of goal and was relieved that the Thai attacks went awry when it mattered the most.

Linares’ big shift manning the back three alongside Paul Tabinas and Adrian Ugelvik produced a stonewall in front of the One Taguig custodian, but it was his tall frame that gave them the big win heading into Bangkok in three days’ time.

Zico Bailey’s free kick from the left wing first found Tabinas, who had the instinct to head it back to the six-yard box to an onrushing Linares for a diving header past Patiwat Khammai.

PHILIPPINES: Kammeraad (GK), Ugelvik, Tabinas, Linares, Reyes (Mariona 90+4’), Kristensen (Gayoso 70’), Monis (Dalapo 90+4’), Bailey, Kekkonen (Rontini 70’), Kempter © (Woods 61’), Rublico

THAILAND: Khammai (GK), Khemdee, Auksonrnsri (Mickelson 46’), Supachok (Worachit 79’), Peeradol ©, Gustavsson (Teerasak 63’), Suphanat (Ratree 63’), Promsupa, Pumwiset (Weidersjoe 90’), Pomphun, Bureerat



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