Chonburi: The Philippine women's football team achieved history by advancing to the finals of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games for the first time. The Filipinas did it in dramatic fashion, overcoming a 0-1 deficit, equalizing late in regulation, and securing a thrilling 4-2 victory in penalties against host Thailand at the Chonburi Daikin Stadium.
According to Philippines News Agency, this achievement marks another milestone for the Filipinas, who previously scored a significant win against New Zealand in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and claimed a breakthrough ASEAN title at home the previous year. The team, led by Mark Torcaso, is now set to compete for the SEAG gold against defending champion Vietnam on December 17.
The Vietnamese team, previously defeated by the Filipinas in group play 1-0, secured their finals spot with a commanding 5-0 victory over Indonesia at the National Sports University IPE Stadium. Meanwhile, the Chaba Kaew took an early lead when Mongkoldee Jiraporn capitalized on a defensive error to score in the 53rd minute.
Refusing to back down, the Filipinas found their opportunity in the 86th minute when a Thai defender's handball led to a penalty. Jael Marie Guy converted the penalty, leveling the score and invigorating the Filipino crowd. The deadlock persisted through extra time, leading to a decisive penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Guy, Alessandra Carpio, Sara Eggesvik, and captain Hali Long successfully converted their penalties. A crucial miss by Thailand's Pluemjai Sontisawat and a misfire by Orapin Waenngoen sealed the Filipinas' historic victory, paving their way to the finals.
