Philippines keeps AMEC semifinal hopes alive with draw against Vietnam

c/o Philippine Football Federation

The Philippine men's national football team's (PMNFT) third Group B fixture in 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup (AMEC) has resulted in another draw, 1-1, versus outright semifinalist Vietnam on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

This was the first point the Philippines has scored from Vietnam since the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup, where the Philippines won, 1-0, courtesy of a Chieffy Caligdong late goal.

PMNFT has since lost six games against the ASEAN powerhouse until Wednesday's draw.

Homegrown star Jarvey Gayoso came from his wedding last weekend to electrify the Filipino crowd with his patented left-footed bomb in the 68th minute for the lead.

Scoring on his third international goal, the shot was built up by an Amani Aguinaldo long ball, targeting Javier Mariona, who headed the ball to Gayoso.

That could have been a 2-0 score for the Philippines as in the first half stoppage time, Bjorn Kristensen scored after being released by fellow Fil-Norwegian Adrian Ugelvik on the break but the starting forward was called for an offensive foul on his body-to-body with Viet Anh Bui Hoang, disallowing the goal.

"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 on 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 explained, alluding to his team's third game in seven days, which included travel to and from Vientiane.

Ngoc Tan Doan ultimately scored the upset goal in the 90+7 mark, finding an opening by crouching low to head in the right corner inswing.

When asked about conceding three goals from set pieces, Capellas responded: "I never will blame a player for a mistake. Never. All of them they have my hundred percent support. A player who does not play is a player who does not commit a mistake. Football is a game of mistakes."

"It's nothing about set pieces. It's about respecting the players who play," Capellas asserted.

For his part, Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President John Anthony Gutierrez expressed his full support for the team.

"As I've said on Tuesday, this will be a 50-50 game. This has not been the case against Vietnam since our peak years in terms of world ranking. Now that we are coming in at world number 149, it is astounding for us not only to draw against Vietnam, but to battle them possession by possession," Gutierrez said, pertaining to the possession share per official match report.

"We have to give credit to the coaching staff for that excellent second half adjustment that resulted in our goal. I also want to express my support for our homegrown keeper Patrick Deyto for those crucial saves that could have resulted in our elimination had he not played excellently," Gutierrez continued.

Hope is not lost for PMNFT (3 points) as it will head to Solo, in a must-win game against idle group runner-up and home team Indonesia (4 points).

The Philippines should also hope for at least a draw between Vietnam (7 points) and Myanmar (4 points) to advance.