Philippines wins in SEA Games football opener
THE Philippine Men’s Under-22 team made it a successful debut in the 29th Southeast Asian Games late Tuesday night when it blanked Cambodia, 2-0, in Group B action.
Raymart Cubon and Kouichi Belgira provided the goals for the Philippine team as it finally won a game in the regional biennial meet since 2011.
Mr. Cubon got the scoring for the nationals after a goalless first half when he struck in the 51st minute with a header off a Jarvey Gayoso corner.
Gaining the upper hand, the Philippines put the pressure on Cambodia thereafter which proved to bear fruit as it got the latter scrambling on both ends.
The Philippine team, coached by Marlon Maro, sealed the victory with a second goal from Mr. Belgira in the 82nd minute by way of a free kick from just over 20 yards from which their opponents could not recover from.
The team, which joined Vietnam as early victors in Group B, hailed the victory as a “total team effort” and that it hopes to replicate such in the succeeding games.
In Group A, it was Myanmar and host Malaysia that struck first wins.
Next stop for the Philippines is Indonesia, which drew in its first game, today at the Shah Alam Stadium. Kickoff is set at 8:45 p.m. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
