Rare win over War Elephants put PH booters on cusp of historic Asean Cup final

The Philippines celebrates after beating Thailand in the Asean Cup.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Amid the euphoria of beating Thailand after five decades to move on the cusp of a historic first final appearance in the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup, the Philippine men’s football team was quick to conjure a valuable reminder.

There is much work to be done.

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“To beat [Thailand] shows how far we’ve come,” Sandro Reyes said after Friday night’s dramatic 2-1 win over the Thais before 7,100 fans at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

“But I don’t think the job is even halfway done.”

Kike Linares’ last-gasp winner—a diving header off Zico Bailey’s free kick and Paul Tabinas’ pass before the end of the five-minute stoppage—gave the Filipinos the upper hand going into the return leg set for Monday at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium.

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A draw would be enough for coach Albert Capellas’ side to progress into the pinnacle stage of Southeast Asia’s biggest tournament.

Getting that, however, will be easier said than done.

Thailand has the luxury of playing in the friendly confines of the Thai capital’s national stadium, where 50,000 people are expected to make the atmosphere favorable for the War Elephants.

Memorable comebacks

Historically, Thailand, the most successful country in the Asean Championship with seven titles, including the last two editions and four of the last five, is used to overcoming deficits going into the second leg. Among those memorable comebacks took place during the 2016 final against Indonesia and in the 2022 semifinals opposite Malaysia.

“It’s only one game,” said Capellas. “I know it’s a very important game, very special for everybody, for the country, for the fans. But in our way of thinking, we only have done half a job. We say we have it right here and we don’t want to stop.”

The win was another twist in an interesting campaign for the Philippines, which opened the Mitsubishi Electric Cup with three straight 1-1 draws and needed a hard-fought 1-0 away win against a youthful Indonesian side in Surakarta to reach the semifinals.

The Philippines last beat Thailand in the 1972 Jakarta Anniversary Tournament—a 52-year drought. It is also the country’s greatest result against the War Elephants since the Asean Championship began in 1996, posting a scoreless draw in the first leg of the 2014 semifinals at Rizal Memorial and a 1-1 tie in the 2018 group stage at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.

‘Wonderboy’

“We went through hell the entire group stage, so many adversities. But we kept on going and it showed in this game,” said Reyes, who opened the night with an incredible left-footed strike in the 21st minute.

His third international goal made a madhouse out of Rizal Memorial—and the broadcast booth.

“Sandro Reyes, [the] Wonderboy of Philippine football,” exclaimed Cedelf Tupas, the Inquirer’s former football writer who called the match for the local broadcast feed.

But the excitement over Reyes’ goal dampened before halftime when Thailand went on a counterattack that ended with Suphanan Bureerat scoring off Patrik Gustavsson’s cross.

But even with Thailand keeping most of the ball possession in the second half and creating good chances, the Philippines survived countless close calls with Quincy Kammeraad in front of the goal and Scott Woods turning up as an efficient substitute for Michael Kempter.

Tabinas and Bailey dispossessed opponents or made clearances, getting rewarded for keeping the game tied by setting up Linares’ header.

“We made a really bad mistake at the end of the first half and we struggled the whole second half,” Reyes said. “But we stayed together and showed our character, and we just finished it off in the last part.”

Linares had been a culprit for one of the Philippines’ glaring miscues in the group stage, when a reckless foul set up a goal off a free kick in the tournament opener at home against Myanmar.

But apology memes surfaced on football groups’ social media pages after the defender came through with a landmark first goal in a Philippine shirt at the most important time.

“It’s a special night. I cannot be more happier,” he said.

Unless, of course, the Philippines creates an even more special night in the unfriendly confines of Bangkok’s arena.