For a very long time, the Philippines U22 team was out of Southeast Asian Games men’s football tournaments in their early stages. Many fans lost hope for a while. However, the team is back in force, and after 34 long years, the team reached the semifinals of the SEA Games.
U22 got more bettors on every betting site after they secured wins over Indonesia and Myanmar. Now, the group is looking forward to the medal, and supporters hope to see their favorite achieve victory.
Winning Against Indonesia and Myanmar
After many early exits over the course of 34 years, the Philippines U22 team managed to win against two strong players: Indonesia and Myanmar.
In a very intense Group C match, the group beat Indonesia, which has been a feared opponent, holding many titles over the years. The match was held in Chiang Mai.
Beating Myanmar
The game against Myanmar was impressive. In the second minute of the first-half stoppage time, Otu Banatao’s header was enough to give his team the upper hand. The team won with a 2-0 score. They also had a perfect six points for No. 1 in the three-team bracket.
The first goal was scored in the 19th minute. Alex James had a back pass from one of his teammates. Then, with a spectacular one-touch shot, he went past the Myanmar goalkeeper and opened the score.
For a while, both Banatao and Alex Jones had more chances to score, but they were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Myanmar couldn’t land counterattacks successfully.
Then, in the second half, a cross from the left wing led to an awkward kick to the ball from defender Lat Wai Phone. This brought the score to 2-0 for the Philippines.
Beating Indonesia
The Pinoy booters were determined to win. Once the game ended, this became obvious because they achieved victory.
During the game, the team stunned the Garuda Muda. Banatao did one of the most impressive things. His long throw-in was timed so accurately that it bounced into his area. This allowed him to beat Rizky Raka Cahyana, the Indonesian defender, to the ball, before making it move past keeper Supriadi Cahya.
As such, the Philippines U22 team won against Indonesia with a 1-0 score. This is the first time they have won at home since 1991.
Indonesia was the gold medalist back in 2023. Expectations for them were high, but in the closing minutes, the defense wasn’t the best, which is how the Filipino players had the advantage.
Besides, the Philippines U22 team was already at the top of Group C temporarily before the game.
Reactions After the Event
Naturally, the group was ecstatic. While at the 700th Anniversary Stadium, they began to celebrate. It was a moment that recreated the magic of the 1991 SEAG event.
The players knew that they had a chance to win the medal and are now ready to face their next opponents.
What’s Next?
After reaching such a massive milestone in this event, the group shifts its attention to the Final Four. According to Garrath McPherson, the team’s coach, the Philippines U22 now wants to win the medal.
“The players obviously have set their own goals as a group. Before the tournament, they set themselves the goals of at least semifinals and placing with a medal in this tournament,” he said.
The team will either face the Group B ruler or the Group A leader. Regardless of the outcome of the next games, this is huge for U22, and the team is sure to have some fun in the future matches.
“Our focus now is on enjoying some rest after playing two games in a span of four days, and we now get to have some rest, (time to) recharge, mentally and physically,” McPherson said.
People believe that the Philippines may even be able to surpass the achievement of Norman Fedigero’s crew. The group had a draw with Vietnam and an upset with Malaysia, which brought them to the famous 1991 semifinals at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
What Happened in 1991?
1991 was the last semifinal that saw the Philippines U22. The team lost against Thailand and later to Singapore. They ended the tournament in fourth place.
Unfortunately, the team didn’t get far in the tournament for a very long time after that. While it wasn’t out of the ordinary to see some bad performance for a while, fans didn’t expect the team to take 34 years to reach the semifinals again. In 2025, the group reached the SEA Games semis and is now eyeing the medal.
The next games are going to be intense, but exciting. Players are ready to face their opponents, and fans cannot wait to see if the U22 team will win the medal. In the meantime, punters can start planning their betting strategy.
Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.