This is one unfortunate ending for the FIFA World Cup-bound Filipinas.
There will be no medal this time for the Filipinas.
While they had a rousing 2-1 win over defending champion Vietnam in the Southeast Asian Games women’s football tournament on Tuesday, the Filipinas still failed to book a return trip to the semifinals.
This after Myanmar came out with the better goal differential after its 5-1 drubbing of Malaysia.
This was a stunning development for the Filipinas, who were gunning for a gold medal in the regional meet after a bronze mint-finish in Hanoi, Vietnam last year. They split their first games against Myanmar and Malaysia.
Now, the FIFA World Cup-bound Filipinas will go home without a medal.
The unfortunate ending notwithstanding, the Filipinas put on a spectacular performance nonetheless, with Sarina Bolden scoring the first goal in the 19th minute off a penalty against the Vietnamese side ranked 33rd in the world.
It didn’t take long before the reigning gold medalists struck back, with Thi Bich Tuy Nguyen leveling the game with a goal in the 41st minute of action.
It was back-and-forth action from there, before Hali Long nailed a header in the homestretch. The Filipno booters refused to let up from there, keeping Vietnam at bay until the final buzzer.
(MDB)