The Philippine Under-23 Men’s National Football Team (PMNFT U23) delivered a spirited performance against reigning SEA Games and ASEAN Championship winners Vietnam in their Group C clash of the 20th Asian Games on Friday, September 18, at the CS Asset Minato Soccer Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, pushing one of the continent’s top sides until the very end before falling, 2-0.
Playing without starting defensive midfielder Gavin Muens, the young Filipinos more than held their own. After periods of high-quality defending, the young Philippine side created a number of goal-scoring chances to go ahead at half time.
Together with the backline, goalkeeper Nic Guimaraes turned in a quality performance between the posts, denying any Vietnamese chances with a string of sharp saves, notably a back-to-back save in the second half that kept the Philippines within sight of a result.
The Filipinos had their moments going forward across the game. A disciplined finish to the first half saw captain Sandro Reyes create danger from set pieces, one almost finding the breakthrough through a headed effort from Jaime Rosquillo.
The team came out for the second half with renewed energy, pressing high up the pitch, and Reyes tested Vietnam’s goalkeeper with a rocket from 25 yards just three minutes in.
Young winger Ethan Smith was a bright spot throughout the match, putting in an excellent shift as he covered Vietnam’s wide areas defensively while consistently advancing the ball into dangerous positions and delivering dangerous balls into the Vietnamese box.
Rookie winger Ethan Smith pressuring Vietnamese goal scorer Nguyen Thanh Nhan.
Vietnam broke the deadlock in the 74th minute, as a long ball from the back found Nguyen Thanh Nhan who chipped a running strike past Guimaraes.
The Philippines refused to fold, and in one of the match’s most thrilling sequences, Santi Rublico came within inches of an equalizer in the 85th minute, his effort from inside the six-yard box drifting just wide after a deflected shot from Reyes.
The Filipinos pushed players forward in the final stages of the game to find an equaliser, and after sustained possession in the attacking half were caught on the break. Nguyen Le Phat finished from close range for the Vietnamese, heading in from his own miss that hit the crossbar in the 87th minute.
PFF President John Anthony Gutierrez praised the young squad’s heart and determination.
“Santi Rublico’s chance in the 85th minute could have changed everything, and it shows just how close our boys came to snatching a result from the reigning SEA Games and ASEAN champions,” Gutierrez said.
Winger Santi Rublico nearly scored the equalizer in the 85th minute.
“Even without Gavin Muens marshaling our midfield, our players never stopped believing, creating chances and threatening their goal time and again. That kind of heart is exactly what this program needs as it grows.”
Head coach Garrath McPherson was proud of his team’s discipline and belief throughout the contest.
“I am proud of the players’ mentality and discipline in this game. We spoke about the need to play a disciplined game, we believed that if we were in the game at the end we would have moments to score goals,” McPherson said. “We were rewarded with a number of these opportunities. We are in the game right at the death with opportunities to make it 1-1.”
McPherson also credited the impact of his bench as the match progressed.
“Due to player fatigue, we are forced to make substitutions and adapt to pre-game plans. I am pleased with those players who entered the game. We now take all of the learning from this game, focus on the recovery of our players, and ensure we are ready for the final match day,” he said.
Notably, both Guimaraes and Smith remain eligible for the next cycle of U23 tournaments, a promising sign for the program’s pipeline of talent heading forward.
The team will look to close out the tournament on a high note against Kuwait on September 22, with kickoff at 1:00 p.m. at the CS Asset Minato Soccer Stadium in Nagoya, Japan.
