The Philippine men’s national football team staged a spirited comeback, earning a hard-fought 2-2 draw against higher-ranked Tajikistan in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. The contest unfolded before a 10,000-strong crowd at New Clark City on Tuesday night, as the Philippines showcased its unwavering determination.
Man of the Match Bjorn Kristensen, scored the equalizer in the 79th minute off Kevin Ray Mendoza’s long ball to salvage the point and keep the Philippines’ lead in Group A. The Filipino-Norwegian, who joined the squad in September 2024, now has eight international goals in just ten months with the national team.
Kristensen had opened the scoring in the 28th minute, heading in the rebound after a dangerous Gerritt Holtmann free kick struck the crossbar.
“Oh, it’s always good to score goals here. Even with a big crowd like today, I have to thank them for coming and yeah, it feels nice,” Kristensen shared.
Tajikistan, ranked 42 places above the Philippines in the FIFA world rankings, quickly responded to Kristensen’s opener. Midfielder Ehson Panshanbe found the net in the 30th minute, capitalizing on a Jeff Tabinas clearance that got past Kevin Ray Mendoza. Jesper Nyholm conceded a penalty 10 minutes later with a foul on Panshanbe inside the box, allowing Parvizdzhon Umarbayev to convert from the spot.
The second half saw the Philippines assert dominance. The introduction of debuting Czech First League central midfielder Andre Leipold and Malaysia Super League center back Amani Aguinaldo infused the team with energy, leading to increased possession and offensive opportunities.
“They try from the center, from the flanks. And they are good in that position. And we try to stay compact and play more… Let’s say, counter-attacks,” Tajikistan head coach Gela Shekiladze commented on the PMNFT’s play under interim head coach Carles Cuadrat.
“Before the game we knew that it’s a very difficult team and they know how to do tactical fouls, to stop the transitions, to stop the game also, that kind of things that we know because they are, you know, with a lot of experience. But I think that the players put a lot of heart in the game,” said Cuadrat, who joined the PMNFT in March for the match against Maldives. “It was a moment that we were really pushing hard, that we were really having them in their own box and we were putting crosses, we were getting… If you see, the best chances have been for the Philippines,” he added.
Despite the draw, the Philippines maintains the lead in Group A with four points and a +2 goal difference advantage over Tajikistan. Only the group winner will qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup. The PMNFT will next play Timor-Leste in back-to-back games in October.