For the first time since 1991, the Philippine U21 men’s football team is heading to the SEA Games semifinal—right after beating defending champion Indonesia.
The Philippines pulled off a massive 1–0 upset over defending champion Indonesia to sweep Group C and end a 34-year semifinal drought in the SEA Games men’s football tournament at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai.
The U21 squad topped the group with six points, following their historic 2–0 win over Myanmar before stunning Indonesia to seal their spot in the knockout stage.
Otu Banatao delivered the breakthrough in first-half added time, heading in the lone goal off a throw-in before the young Filipinos held firm defensively to secure the historic win. This marks the Philippines’ first semifinal appearance since 1991, when the country last reached the final four.