by Kevin Estrada

CAPAS, TARLAC — At the New Clark City Stadium, the Philippines capped off their homestand in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers after coming from a goal down to defeat TImor Leste, 3-1 Tuesday evening.

Carles Cuadrat’s men were made to work by their ASEAN neighbors as they retain the top spot in Group A, despite Tajikistan running out 3-0 winners away at the Maldives earlier on.

The first half saw multiple Filipino chances gone awry, the first one came just three minutes in when Jefferson Tabinas was denied by the right post following a corner kick.

Then, goalkeeper Junildo led the Timorese defense in stifling the hosts’ chances later on, as Andre Leipold hit the side netting in the 27th minute after being offloaded by Bjorn Martin Kristensen.

The misfiring hosts were made to pay in the first-half stoppage time, with Joao Rangel silencing the NCC with a curling effort past Kevin Ray Mendoza to put themselves ahead at the break.

Whatever had Cuadrat said at halftime worked wonders soon afterward for the host, with Jefferson Tabinas poking it home from a corner within just 52 seconds after the restart to level the match.

With the comeback truly on, Kristensen then put the hosts’ ahead for good in the 70th minute, firing in from the six-yard box after being picked out by centre-half Jesper Nyholm that brought most of the 8753-strong crowd to life at last.

And into stoppage time, the Philippines put the finishing touches to take all three points, with substitute Jarvey Gayoso converting following a scramble inside the box.

PHILIPPINES: Mendoza (GK), Tabinas, Nyholm (Aguinaldo 76′), Reyes (Bailey 76′), Leipold (Gayoso 65′), Ott (C), Kristensen (Rasmussen 88′), Schneider, Baccay, Holtmann (Demuynck 88)’, Kempter

EAST TIMOR: Junildo (GK), Ryan Jom (Mario Quintao 72′), Joao Panji, Zenivio Mota (Marques De Carvalho 81′), Claudio Osorio (Fretellian 72′), Joao Rangel (Joao Freitas 81′), Zion Plinio (Mozinho 62′), Xavi Da Costa, Paulo Freitas (C), Viegas, Anizo Correia