Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 12) – The Philippines women’s national football team dropped its last group stage game in the AFF Women’s Championship 2022 at the expense of Thailand, 0-1, on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Thailand finished as top seed of Group A with 13 points while the Philippines fell to a close second with 12 points. Both squads have secured their entry to the semifinals of the regional tournament.
Since the first half, the Filipinas struggled to complete their goal opportunities due to the suffocating defense of the Thais while the ball was inside the hosts’ goal area.
The golden strike for Thailand came in the 75th minute when a high ball play was received by forward Kanyanat Chetthabutr, who hit the goal after getting past Filipina defenders Hali Long and Sofia Harrison.
Filipinas head coach Alen Stajcic subbed in top striker Sarina Bolden, who surprisingly came off the bench, in the last ten minutes of the match. It was not enough for the Philippines to force a draw.
Most people in the 2,923-strong crowd in the historic football stadium reacted in dismay in the 88th minute after referees did not call a penalty over Bolden apparently being tackled hard by Thai defender Kanjanaporn Saenkhun inside the goal area.
“We have the chances to win and we didn’t take it. We got punished against good international opposition. That’s what happens in football. We got to bounce back next game,” Stajcic said after the match.
In the semifinals come Friday, the Filipina booters will face the winner between Group B top teams Vietnam and Myanmar which are set to slug it out in a separate crucial match on Wednesday. These two squads are currently tied with nine points each.
