MANILA – The Philippine women football team’s bid to retain the MSIG Serenity Cup crown ended in the group stage after they settled for a 1-1 draw against Myanmar on Wednesday night at the Lạch Tray Stadium in Vietnam.
Needing a win — and multiple goals — to secure a place in the semifinals, the Filipinas could only manage a point against their Southeast Asian rivals to settle for third place in Group B.
Myanmar topped the group with seven points, coming from two wins and the draw against the Filipinas. The Aussies finished second with six points after defeating the Philippines and Timor Leste.
The breakthrough for Myanmar came in the 33rd minute, when goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel conceded a penalty after clipping skipper Win Theingi Tun inside the box. Tun calmly slotted home the spot kick for a 1-0 lead.
The Filipinas found their equalizer in the second half through young striker Nina Mathelus, who linked up with fellow substitute Adelaide Wyrzynski. Wyrzynski delivered a superb cross into the box, which Mathelus turned in with her left foot to level the match at 1-1.
From there, the Philippines pressed hard for a go-ahead goal, with Chandler McDaniel, Mathelus, and captain Hali Long all getting chances, but Myanmar’s defense held firm.
Late in the match, Olivia McDaniel produced two crucial saves to deny Yoon Wadi Hlaing on a breakaway, keeping the score level. The Filipinas had one last opportunity in the closing minutes via a corner kick, but Wyrzynski’s attempt off a Chandler McDaniel cross drifted wide left.
The Filipinas entered the tournament with a significantly retooled lineup from the one that captured the AFF Women’s Championship on home soil in 2022, as several veterans were unavailable due to injuries or club commitments.
They opened their campaign with a confidence-boosting 7-0 rout of Timor Leste, but a 1-0 loss to Australia in their second match left them in a must-win situation against Myanmar.
With the result, host Vietnam will face Australia in one semifinal, while Myanmar will battle Thailand in the other./PN
