PH men’s football team beats Maldives, boosts Asian Cup return

The Philippine men’s national football team inched closer to an AFC Asian Cup return after beating Maldives in the qualifiers, 2-0, on Tuesday night, in Male.

The Filipinos and Tajikistan finished this year’s group stage with identical 4-1-0 win-draw-loss records for 13 points each in Group A following the latter’s 5-0 thrashing of Timor-Leste earlier to provisionally top the table.

It will go down to the final matchup between the two sides in March 2026 in Tajikistan to determine who will qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

The Philippines opened its campaign in the qualification round against Maldives with a 4-1 victory before settling for a 2-2 draw against Tajikistan in June both at the New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.

After mixed results, the Pinoy booters came up with huge wins against Timor-Leste in both home and away games in October.

Both nations already share a rich head-to-head history, with the Filipinos’ last appearance in the Asian Cup coming at the expense of the Tajikistanis in 2018 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Despite the Philippines coming home with its first clean-sheet of the tournament, the Nationals must win against Tajikistan by at least two goals next year as it trails in goal difference (GD), 11-10.

Over at the Maldives National Football Stadium, Paul Tabinas and Sandro Reyes delivered both much-needed goals in the first half for the Philippines.

Tabinas converted a set-piece through a header at the 24th-minute mark before Jarvey Gayoso provided an assist to Reyes 13 minutes later to double the count.

Bjorn Kristensen, who is tied with Iraq’s Nasser Al-Gahwashi as the tournament’s top scorers with eight each, came up short of a haul this time around.

Kristensen had a few chances in the extra time but could not complete the finishing kick.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News