Filipino-Spanish footballer Enrique “Kike” Linares delivered a dramatic winning goal in the fifth minute of added time, securing a stunning 2-1 victory for the Philippine national men’s football team against Thailand on Friday evening at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The 7,116 fans in attendance erupted in jubilation as the Philippine side celebrated a historic win in the first leg of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024 semifinals.
Ranked world no. 150, the Philippines, under the guidance of head coach Albert Capellas, had not defeated the world no. 97-ranked Thais in 52 years. This landmark victory provides the Filipino team with a bright opportunity to reach the finals for the first time in the tournament’s history.
“I’m very happy for all the supporters, for all the fans. And I’m very happy for the players because they never gave up,” said Capellas, lauding his squad for their resilience against the formidable Thai team.
The 25-year-old Linares clinched the victory with a perfectly timed header in the 90+5 minute, capitalizing on a meticulously executed set-piece as time was running out.
The last time the Philippines triumphed over Thailand was on June 12, 1972, with a 1-0 win during the Jakarta Anniversary Tournament.
The host team began the match on a high note with Sandro Reyes giving the Philippines an early lead in the 21st minute. The 20-year-old midfielder electrified the crowd with a left-footed strike from outside the box.
Thailand, known as the War Elephants, equalized just before halftime. A counterattack from a corner kick led to Suphanan Bureerat finding the back of the net in the 45th minute, leveling the match at 1-1.
In the second half, the Thais pressed hard for a lead, with one of their attempts striking the crossbar, but the Filipino defense held firm.
The Philippines and Thailand are set to face off again in the second leg of the semifinals this Monday at 9 p.m. (Manila time) at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.
Before the match, the tournament observed a moment of silence in honor of the late Philippine Football Federation General Secretary and ASEAN Football Federation official, Atty. Ed Gastañes, who recently passed away.
