Bjorn Kristensen celebrates a late goal that sent the Philippines men’s soccer team into the semifinals of the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup.
The Philippines men’s football team secured a place in the Mitsubishi Electric Asean Cup semifinals for the first time in six years after a dramatic 1-0 victory over 10-man hosts Indonesia on Saturday at the Stadium Manahan from Surakarta.
Bjorn Kristensen scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute, even as goalkeeper Quincy Kammeraad provided a stellar relief effort between the sticks while team captain Amani Aguinaldo led a valiant defensive stand as the Filipinos finished the group stage with three points slipping away from them. them after three consecutive 1-1 draws.
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READ: PH booters focus on key clash against Indonesia in Asean Cup
Vietnam’s 5-0 home win over Myanmar also lifted coach Albert Capellas’ team into second place in Group B with six points and a date with holders Thailand , in a two-way semi-final.
The Filipinos will host the tournament’s winningest nation in the first leg on December 27 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, with the return date set for December 30 at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.
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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 into the semifinals of the Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup.
Indonesia, which mainly fielded players under the age of 22 instead of its strongest team, and Myanmar finished with four points each, missing out on their own qualification for the semi-finals. Vietnam won the group after scoring 10 points from three wins and one draw.
This will be the fifth time in the history of Southeast Asia’s most prestigious football competition that the Philippines has qualified for the semi-finals of the aforementioned 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018 editions, failing to reach each time the final.
READ: Asean Cup: Philippines concede late goal in Vietnam and settle for a draw
Hopes of qualifying for the last four appeared to be a tough hurdle after the Philippines settled for a point each against Myanmar at home and Laos away. Three days earlier at the Rizal Memorial, the Filipinos were probably one kick away from victory when Vietnam scored the equalizer.
Things started ominously when starting goalkeeper Patrick Deyto had to be carried off the field on a stretcher after being cut by an Indonesian opponent, and was replaced by Kammeraad, who made his first cap after many years in the national team pool.
But Philippine Football League One Taguig goalkeeper responded by making key saves to help the Aguinaldo-led backline that also includes Michael Kempter, Paul Tabinas and Adrian Ugelvik as well as midfielders Zico Bailey and Scott Woods.
READ: Asean Cup: Philippines ends in another draw, this time against Laos
The Philippines had a strength advantage in the 42nd minute when Indonesian Muhammad Ferrari was sent off with a straight red card after an incident with Aguinaldo, who on the other hand received a yellow card.
It took some time before the hour mark for the Philippines to find the break they needed when Tabinas’ cross hit the arm of Muhammad Hannan, prompting Japanese referee Koji Takasaki to point to the spot, a call which was later confirmed by VAR.
Kristensen calmly converted his second goal of the competition, all from penalties after his equalizer in the group stage opener against Myanmar.
The Philippines had a great opportunity to double their lead when Jarvey Gayoso, who scored against Vietnam as a substitute, attempted a counter but was stopped by Indonesian defender Dony Pamungkas.
Unlike the last match, the Philippines managed to defeat Indonesia, take three points and play more beyond the Christmas festivities.
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Meanwhile, Vietnam will face Group A runners-up Singapore in the other semi-final clash.
