MANILA — Ilonggo football standout Nathan Caligdong struck his team-leading third goal as the Philippine Under-15 men’s national football team blanked Macau, 2-0, to secure its third consecutive victory in the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup and Festival on Wednesday at the Hovsan Competition Complex in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Caligdong delivered the finishing blow at the final whistle after Dan Emmanuel Becera opened the scoring in the 20th minute, powering the young Filipinos past Macau in the Tier D classification round of 32.
The victory sustained the Philippines’ winning momentum in the international tournament, with Caligdong emerging as the squad’s leading scorer with three goals.
Becera put the Filipinos ahead after receiving a long pass from Negros Occidental defender Frank Jonal Oliverio. The Cavite Regional Football Association standout controlled the ball with a deft first touch before firing home on his second contact.
The Philippines dominated the attacking exchanges and repeatedly threatened Macau’s defense but struggled to convert its scoring opportunities against a resilient goalkeeper.
The Filipinos nearly doubled their advantage in the 28th minute when Micah Alva earned a penalty after being fouled inside the box. However, his spot kick struck the right post.
Becera and Alva continued to pressure Macau’s defense, registering two attempts each, but the opposing goalkeeper kept the Filipinos from extending their lead.
Caligdong finally broke through at the final whistle, reacting quickly to a rebound after Macau’s goalkeeper blocked John Carlo Rendon’s attempt.
The Iloilo-Guimaras Regional Football Association standout capitalized on the loose ball to seal the 2-0 victory and register his third goal of the tournament.
Before the match, Philippine U15 head coach Roxy Dorlas stressed the importance of maintaining an aggressive attacking approach without compromising defensive discipline.
“Our goal is to play positive, attacking football, create more scoring opportunities, and put our opponents under pressure while remaining organized, disciplined, and difficult to beat,” Dorlas said.
With limited familiarity against their previous opponents, Dorlas said the Filipinos focused on improving their own execution and matching the intensity of their international rivals.
The young Filipino booters will look to sustain their unbeaten run over the past three matches as they continue their classification campaign in Azerbaijan./PN
