The Philippine men’s national football team fought for survival in the return of regular head coach Scott Cooper and ultimately succumbed to Thailand, 1-2, exiting the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup Tuesday at the Singapore National Stadium in a historic night for Thai superstar Teerasil Dangda.
Teerasil scored all of Thailand’s goals and became the highest scoring player in AFF Championship history with nineteen goals.
The 33-year-old Pathum United standout started Thailand’s scoring run by striking off a beautiful left cross from Theerathon Bunmathan, who slithered past and dislodged Patrick Reichelt to assist for Thailand’s opening goal at the 26th minute.
Thailand had two more opportunities on goal in the first half, all deflected by defender Jesper Nyholm.
Pinoy goalkeeper Kevin Mendoza Hansen had two saves to start the second half but the Azkals finally had a scoring chance when Kevin Ingreso was awarded a free kick eight yards off the penalty box.
With this, Patrick Reichelt scored his 12th international goal with a strike off a rebound from Manuel Bihr’s deflection of Ingreso’s free kick to level the score at the 57th minute.
After a block by Daisuke Sato of Thanawat Suengchitthawon’s strike, Ingreso was once again awarded a free kick from outside the box but was blocked the Thailand’s defensive wall.
Thailand’s winning goal came at the 77th minute, when Amani Aguinaldo fouled Thitipan Puangjan inside the penalty area as Teerasil casually sank the penalty kick for his 49th international goal.
With the goal, Teerasil is just one away from entering FIFA Men’s 50-goal Club, an elite group that includes the recently retired Phil Younghusband and six other Southeast Asian legends.
The Azkals had two more chances of getting their first win against Thailand since 1971, with Nyholm leaking past Thailand’s defense only for Yrick Gallantes to be caught offside. In addition, late sub Amin Nazari’s strike at injury time—the Azkals’ third shot of the game—went wide on the right.
Thailand’s win secured their and Singapore’s slot in the semifinals round as the Azkals’ will fight for third place in Group A against Myanmar on December 18.
