Philippine men's team loses ASEAN semis, 3-1 to Thailand

The Philippine men's national team narrowly missed out on reaching the ASEAN Championship finals after losing 3-1 in the second leg semifinal match against Thailand on Monday night.

Despite falling behind early and facing controversy over a disputed goal, the Philippines fought back valiantly, with Bjørn Kristensen scoring an equalizer late in regulation to force extra time, but Suphanat Mueanta's decisive header in the 116th minute secured Thailand's victory with a 4-3 aggregate win.

Coach Albert Capellas praised his team's performance and vowed that they will learn from their defeat to come back stronger in future tournaments.

The tournament marked significant milestones for the Philippine team, including their first semifinal appearance since 2018 and the emergence of new stars like Kristensen and Sandro Reyes.

Capellas acknowledged the need for support from the federation, government, and football enthusiasts to help develop a more powerful league and youth football in the Philippines.

Despite the setback, goalkeeper Quincy Kammeraad emphasized that supporters should be proud of the team's performance and progress throughout the tournament.

The national squad will now focus on the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers in March.