By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
A missed opportunity.
The Philippine men’s football team squandered what could be another colossal win after allowing regional powerhouse Vietnam to rally and salvage a 1-1 draw on Wednesday, Dec. 18, in the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The PH booters looked headed to a stunning victory after Jarvey Gayoso scored in the 68th minute, a feat that evoked memories of the ‘Miracle in Hanoi’ when the country scored historic 2-0 win over the same country on December 5, 2010.
That win ignited the sport’s renaissance that saw the country beat Vietnam anew, 1-0, in the 2012 Suzuki Cup in Bangkok.
The Vietnamese, however, made sure there would be no more miracle this time as
Ngoc Tan Doan scored a short header in injury time to spoil the country’s impressive start.
“Today was a different game. Today was a 50-50 game. It was more of a battle,” remarked national team coach Albert Capellas.
“We have to keep longer ball possession because when we put five passes between lines, we shouldn’t have lost, if we could do that in the last five-seven minutes, we shouldn’t have lost. But we are tired, the team was so tired, but they gave whatever they can,” Capellas added, referring to his team’s third game in seven days, which included travel to and from Vientiane.
The result slightly raised the PH booters’ output to 3 points that put them in fourth place in Group B as it heads to Solo in a must-win game against home team Indonesia, which carries 4 points.
The Filipinos also hope for at least a draw between Vietnam (7 points) and Myanmar (4 points).
