Filipinas' 2-1 win over Vietnam not enough, bow out of SEA Games

Despite the Filipinas recording a 2-1 over Vietnam at the Smart RSN Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia this Tuesday, May 9, 2023, their 2023 Southeast Asian Games campaign comes to an end after Myanmar defeated Malaysia, 5-1 in the other Group A match.

PHOTO CREDIT: Pilipinas Women's National Football Team

The Filipinas entered the matchup needing a big win against the defending SEA Games champions and pre-tournament favorite Vietnam, and both sides duked it out early on.

Bella Flanigan found some space inside the box off a headed pass from Sarina Bolden, but a challenge by the Vietnamese keeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh inside the box caught her leg, earning the keeper a yellow card, and the Filipinas a penalty. Sarina Bolden duly converted the penalty to give the blue shirts the lead, 1-0.

The Golden Stars created crucial chances of their own, with Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy and Huynh Nhu coming close to scoring on a couple of occasions in the first half.

Vietnam eventually found their equalizer through Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy in the 41st minute, who pounced on the loose ball after an initial save by McDaniel.

The Vietnamese started the second half as the more dominant side, with the Filipinas reduced to counter-attacks. Huynh Nhu was found wide open from a ball played over the Filipinas' defense in the 49th minute, and again in the 55th minute, needing a last-ditch block from Reina Bonta.

But the Filipinas had chances to take the lead too. Bolden came close to getting her brace after 63 minutes, just heading over the bar from a corner. Halftime substitute Chandler McDaniel almost scored three minutes later off a Quinley Quezada through ball.

The breakthrough finally came through captain Hali Long, whose header off of Sara Eggesvik's delivery went into the back of the net after 84 minutes.

With Myanmar winning 5-1 against Malaysia, the Filipinas fell on the wrong end of a three-way tie. They are level with Vietnam and Myanmar on 6 points, but had dropped to third in the group on inferior goal difference.

The focus for the 49th-ranked women's national team now turns to finalizing preparations for the upcoming Women's World Cup, with their campaign set to open against Switzerland on July 21.