VIENTIANE — The Philippine Men’s National Football Team (PMNFT) reignited its 2026 ASEAN Championship – Hyundai Cup campaign with a commanding 4-1 comeback victory over Laos on Saturday at the National Stadium in Vientiane.
Responding emphatically after a disappointing 1-4 defeat to Myanmar last Tuesday, the Philippines overturned a halftime deficit with four unanswered goals in the second half to earn its first win of the tournament.
“After the painful 1-4 result against Myanmar at home, showing this level of resolve against Laos was a true test of our team’s character and fight. Trailing 1-0 at the half after a difficult opening 45 minutes, our boys could have let the pressure get the better of them. Instead, they stepped onto the pitch for the second half scoring four goals with relentless energy, tactical discipline, and pure heart,” said Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President John Anthony Gutierrez.
“Reclaiming control of the match and grinding out a crucial bounce-back win speaks volumes about the mental toughness of this group when their backs are against the wall,” he added. “Our Hyundai Cup campaign is far from over, and we now turn our full attention to the crucial matches against Thailand and Malaysia.”
The result lifts the Philippines to three points in Group B with an even goal difference and equals the country’s biggest-ever winning margin over Laos in the ASEAN Championship, matching the 4-1 victory recorded during the 2014 edition in Hanoi.
“The main target was to win and to stay in the competition and we did that and move on. So congratulations to the team,” said team manager Patrick Reichelt, who scored a brace in that 2014 win.
“This is a very young group with lots of potential but little experience. National team football doesn’t give you too much time and too many opportunities so we have to learn the lessons quick and hopefully show [respectable] performances in the remaining matches,” Reichelt said, commending new players like Player of the Match Cole Mrowka, John Lucero, Kenji Nishioka, and Gavin Muens for stepping up.
Head coach Carles Cuadrat likewise praised the performance of his men, saying, “the boys responded well, understood what we needed in the second half and showed the right character to find a way to get the result.”
The hosts stunned the Philippines early when Damoth Thongkhamsavath capitalized on a loose ball following an initial save by goalkeeper Quincy Kammeraad to give Laos a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute.
The setback, however, was quickly offset by a major turning point.
Five minutes later, Laos was reduced to 10 men after Phetdavanh Somsanith was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Jarvey Gayoso in midfield.
Despite enjoying the numerical advantage, the Philippines struggled to find the equalizer before halftime.
Nishioka forced multiple saves from goalkeeper Kop Lokphathip, while his headed finish from Muens’ cross in the 26th minute was ruled out for an offside call on Jarvey Gayoso following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.
Daisuke Sato also came close with a header from Sandro Reyes’ corner, while Nishioka narrowly missed with a powerful strike deep into first-half stoppage time.
The Philippines emerged from the break with renewed purpose and immediately seized control of the match.
Fullback Lucero–a mainstay of the Asian Games-bound U23 team–leveled the score just two minutes into the second half after finishing Scott Woods’ pass following Kop’s initial clearance for his first senior international goal.
Five minutes later, pressure from the Philippine attack forced Laos into an own goal when Viengxay Sidavong inadvertently turned Mrowka’s shot into his own net after a quick transition initiated by Javier Mariona.
The visitors extended their advantage in the 60th minute after Gayoso calmly converted from the penalty spot for his seventh international goal. The penalty was awarded after VAR confirmed Phoutthavong Sangvilay handled Gayoso’s shot inside the penalty area.
Team captain and long-time fullback Sato completed the scoring in the 88th minute, heading home Nishioka’s perfectly delivered free kick from the left midfield for his fourth international goal, which capped a dominant second-half display.
Nishioka credited the team’s adjustments after halftime for turning the match around.
“After the goal conceded we were able to come back, we were able to fix the things that needed to be fixed. In the second half we used both spaces between the midfield and the opponent so we got nice areas. Those areas we maximized so that we break through the defense line of Laos,” said Nishioka.
PMNFT now returns home for another crucial Group B encounter against Thailand on Tuesday, August 4, at 9:00 p.m. at New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
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