BIÑAN, Laguna — The Philippine football teams struck twice on Malaysia on Friday night to bolster their respective Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) agenda.
The Malditas barged into the semifinals of the women’s football event after drubbing the Malaysian lady footballers, 5-0, at the Biñan Football Stadium here.
The Azkals, on the other hand, edged the Malaysian men’s squad, 1-0, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila to stay in the hunt for a spot in the men’s football semis.
Sarina Bolden’s hat trick, all in the first half, catapulted the Malditas to the Final Four, while Shai del Campo and Eva Madarang each netted a goal to add more damage to the Malaysian women’s team.
The Malditas’ semifinal opponent will be determined after the Myanmar-Malaysia and the Vietnam-Thailand matches on Monday.
Meanwhile, Stephan Schrock scored a 72nd-minute goal literally from the right corner that made the difference in the Azkals-Malaysia match in Manila.
It was the first time the Philippines beat Malaysia in the SEA Games men’s football event since 1991, when the Philippines likewise beat Malaysia, 1-0, also at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Now with four points after three matches, the Azkals need to beat Timor Leste in the final day of the eliminations on December 4 and hope that Cambodia falters in its remaining games against Myanmar and Malaysia to get into the Final Four. (PNA)
