Youth booters win but still bow out

- Advertisement -

THE Philippines edged Brunei 2-1 last Sunday night, but the victory was not enough as the Filipino booters bowed out of the AFF Under-23 Youth Football Championship at the Prince Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The charges of British coach Stewart Hall closed out their campaign in Group A with their first win but wound up in fourth place with four points, including their 2-2 draw against Timor Leste, while the Brunei footballers wound up last with their third straight setback.

The outcome of the Philippines-Brunei match became inconsequential after the stunning 1-0 triumph of the Timorese over Cambodia in the other match at the Morodok Techo National Stadium, giving them top spot in the group and a spot in the semifinals.

- Advertisement -spot_img

Timor Leste finished the eliminations with seven points on two wins and a draw while relegating the host to second spot with six points after absorbing its first loss in three matches.

After a scoreless standoff at the break, Dennis Chung struck the first goal for the Nationals in the 48th minute before Sandro Miguel Reyes added the second 11 minutes later. Muhammad Said booted in Brunei’s lone marker in the 59th minute.

“We made hard work of this game. We created chances but we missed many of them. We scored two goals but we let Brunei come back,” rued Hall at the post-match briefing. “At the very least we finished the competition on a high with some players making their international debut.”

Hall is looking forward to the return of some, if not most of the Under-23 players, for the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games men’s football tournament in May.

Author

Share post: