Philippines women stun host Thailand on penalties to reach historic first SEA Games football final

After a gritty 1-1 draw following 120 minutes, the Philippines held their nerve from the spot. All four Philippine takers converted their penalties, while Thailand’s Pluemjai Sontisawat and Orapin Waenngoen bottled it, sealing a historic victory for the visitors.

The semi-final clash on Sunday was promising from the opening whistle. Both sides traded chances early, with the woodwork playing a significant role, as Thailand hit the crossbar twice from corner kicks, while the Philippines also saw an effort denied by the bar.

The deadlock was broken in the 53rd minute when Thailand’s Jiraporn Mongkoldee capitalized on a clearance error by Philippines captain Hali Moriah Long, breaking through the defense to score with a clean finish.

Thailand controlled the tempo thereafter, creating several opportunities to put the game to bed. Two of their chances struck the post, keeping the Philippines’ hopes alive by the a thin line.

Just as Thailand appeared to secure a place in the final, Philippines were given a penalty after the host’s defender blocked a cross by hand in the box. From the spot, Jael Marie fired home the equalizer, forcing extra time.

In the additional 30 minutes, the Philippines’ superior physical began to show. The visitors dominated the exhausted Thailand defense, launching chances after chances. Although they couldn’t find a winner, their momentum carried into the penalty shootout, where they executed flawlessly to win 4-2.

The Philippines will now face defending champions Vietnam in the final on Wednesday.

The two teams have already met in the group stage of this tournament, where Vietnam suffered a 0-1 loss in injury time despite dominating most of the time.

The Philippines has emerged as a tough-to-beat opponent for Vietnam, having defeated Coach Mai Duc Chung’s squad in their last three encounters, twice at the SEA Games and once at the AFF Cup.

However, Vietnam will enter the final with a significant fitness advantage. While the Philippines endured a grueling 120-minute battle, Vietnam cruised to a 5-0 victory over Indonesia in their semi-final earlier that afternoon, allowing coach Chung to rest key players.

The stage is now set for a blockbuster final: The Philippines aiming for a maiden gold, and Vietnam fighting to avenge their group stage loss and secure a historic fifth consecutive SEA Games gold.