SEA Games: Philippines falls to Vietnam in women’s football

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Philippines vs Vietnam in the women’s football competition in the 31st SEA Games. PWNT/Raymond Braganza

The Philippines started off hot but lost steam against an aggressive Vietnam side to lose, 2-1, late Wednesday in the 31st Southeast Asian Games women’s football at Cam Pha Stadium in Quang Ninh Peninsula.

With a partisan crowd that numbered 16,000, the Vietnamese found themselves trailing the Filipinas in the highly anticipated battle between the Fifa Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The Philippines thus fell to 1-1 in the standings while Vietnam will be facing Cambodia in the next few days to complete the Group A round.

PH Team captain Thanai Annis broke the ice with a looping shot that bounced past the goalie’s hands and into the net in the 15th, putting the six-time champions on their toes.

But after waves of attempts, Thuyet Dung came through with short hit to equalize for Vietnam, 1-1, in the 36th before each sides traded attacks to close the first half.

Thuy Trang fired the decisive shot in the 49th to assure the debut of the defending champions in the tournaments.

The Filipinas, who routed the Cambodia (5-0), had to scramble in defense through keeper Olivia McDaniels as the hosts fired successive attacks in the closing minutes.