By NIKOLE JAVIER
The Philippine women’s national team suffered a shocking 1-0 loss to Myanmar in the opening of the football competition in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games Wednesday night, May 3, at the Army Stadium Phnom Penh.
In a rematch of last year’s bronze medal protagonists, the Filipinas played courageously but they were punished harshly when Sofia Harrison was seen colliding with a Myanmar player inside the box and was whistled for a foul in the 89th minute.
Filipinas keeper Olivia McDaniel was able to figure out the shot of Myanmar’s Win Theaw Thaw but was a bit slow in stopping the ball.
The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for the Filipinas who had a couple of opportunities in the second half, but just couldn’t break Myanmar’s defensive scheme.
Still, the Filipinas continued to pile pressure on Myanmar in the hope of scoring the equalizer in the added time, but Sarina Bolden’s header was saved by the opposing side’s keeper.
With the loss, the Philippines found itself in a bind as it needs to win its remaining games against Malaysia and Vietnam in Group A to advance to the semis,
The Vietnamese fired warning to all their rivals with a 3-0 drubbing of the Malaysians.
The Filipinas seeks to bounce back at the expense of Malaysia on Saturday, May 6 at 9 p.m. (Manila time) at the same venue.
