Bjorn Kristensen celebrates a late goal that sent the Philippines men’s football team to the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup semifinals.
The Philippine men’s football team secured a place in the semifinals of the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup for the first time in six years following a dramatic 1-0 win over 10-man host Indonesia Saturday at Surakarta’s Manahan Stadium.
Bjorn Kristensen struck the eventual winner off a penalty in the 63rd minute even as goalkeeper Quincy Kammeraad provided a stellar relief effort between the sticks while team captain Amani Aguinaldo led a gallant defensive stand as the Filipinos ended the group stage with the full three points that eluded them after three consecutive 1-1 draws.
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Vietnam’s 5-0 romp at home over Myanmar also cemented coach Albert Capellas’ side the second spot in Group B with six points and a date with titleholder Thailand in a two-legged semifinal affair.
The Filipinos will host the tournament’s winningest nation in the first leg on Dec. 27 at Rizal Memorial Stadium with the return date set Dec. 30 at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium.
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Thailand, which has won the Asean Championship seven times including the last two editions in 2020 (held in 2021 due to the pandemic) and 2022, topped Group A after winning all four matches.
Bjorn Kristensen celebrates a late goal that sent the Philippines to the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup semifinals.
Indonesia, which fielded mostly under-22 players instead of its strongest squad, and Myanmar finished with four points apiece to miss out on their own semifinal bids. Vietnam was the group winner after posting 10 points on three wins and one draw.
It will be the fifth time in the history of Southeast Asia’s most prestigious football competition that the Philippines advanced to the semis which came in 2010, 2012, 2014 and the aforementioned 2018, falling short of reaching the Final each time.
READ: Asean Cup: Philippines concedes late goal to Vietnam, settles for draw
Hopes of going to the last four seemed like a difficult obstacle after the Philippines settled for a point each against Myanmar at home and Laos on the road. Three days earlier at Rizal Memorial, the Filipinos were likely a goal kick away from victory when Vietnam scored an equalizer.
Things got off to a worrying start when starting keeper Patrick Deyto had to be carried off the field a stretcher after getting clipped by an Indonesian opponent, and was replaced by Kammeraad, who made his first cap after many years on the national team pool.
But the goalie for Philippines Football League side One Taguig responded by making key saves to aid the Aguinaldo-led backline that also includes Michael Kempter, Paul Tabinas and Adrian Ugelvik plus holding midfielders Zico Bailey and Scott Woods.
READ: Asean Cup: Philippines ends with another draw, this time vs Laos
The Philippines had an advantage in manpower in the 42nd when Indonesia’s Muhammad Ferrari was sent off with a straight red card after an incident with Aguinaldo, who on the other hand was booked a yellow.
It took some time before the hour mark for the Philippines to find the break it needed when Tabinas’ cross hit the arm of Muhammad Hannan that prompted Japanese referee Koji Takasaki to point at the spot, a call that was later confirmed through VAR.
Kristensen coolly converted his second goal of the competition, all coming from penalties after his equalizer in the group stage opener against Myanmar.
There was a great opportunity for the Philippines to double its lead when Jarvey Gayoso, who scored against Vietnam as a substitute, went for an attempt on a counter, only to be stopped by Indonesia defender Dony Pamungkas.
Unlike the last game, the Philippines was able to finish off Indonesia, put three points in the pocket and play more past the Christmas revelry.
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Meanwhile, Vietnam will take on Group A runner-up Singapore in the other semifinal duel.
