SEA Games: Vietnam strikes late to stun Philippines in men’s football semifinals

Clutch goals from Vietnam dashed the Philippine men’s national football team’s hopes of reaching the 2025 SEA Games gold medal round, as the Filipinos fell in the semifinals in a 0-2 loss on Monday in Thailand.

Substitutes Van Thuan and Thanh Nhan worked their magic late for Vietnam, propelling the squad to the finals while the Philippines was relegated to the bronze medal match against either host Thailand or Malaysia.

With the two teams still goalless in the first 88 minutes, Thuan broke the deadlock with a header off a cross from Nguyen Phi Hoang, giving Vietnam a 1-0 lead at the 89th minute mark. 

Nhan then put Vietnam to a commanding 2-0 advantage when he converted a free kick following a yellow card issued against Philippines' Antoine Ortega at the 92nd mark en route to the victory. 

The Philippines, which ended its Group C run with a clean 2-0 card to advance to the semifinals, saw an end to its gold medal aspirations but could still go for a historic podium finish in the battle for bronze on Thursday. 

—JMB, GMA Integrateed News