Filipino booters battle favored Vietnamese

Game today:

(Rizal Memorial Football Stadium)

9 p.m. — Philippines vs Vietnam

The Philippine men’s national football team meets top seed Vietnam tonight in a crucial game in the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

Both sides clash at 9 p.m. as they try to improve their bid to make it to the semifinals.

So far, the Nationals are in third place in Group B with two draws in two games while the Vietnamese won its first two games of the tournament.

Vietnam hacked out a 1-0 win over Indonesia last Sunday at the Viet Tri Stadium in Phú Thọ thanks to a tap-in goal from team captain Nguyễn Quang Hải in the 77th minute.

Meanwhile, the Philippines is coming off a 1-1 draw against Laos over the weekend after Michael Baldisimo committed an own goal in the 33rd minute before Sandro Reyes scored with a tap-in goal in the 77th minute for the equalizer.

The Filipinos will be entering this match with fire in their eyes not only determined to get a win but to get payback on the Vietnamese.

Vietnam defeated the Philippines 3-2 last June at the My Dinh Stadium in the second round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and the defeat eliminated the Filipinos from title contention.

Now, the Filipinos have a golden opportunity to get back at the Vietnamese and end their unbeaten streak.

National team head coach Albert Capellas said they will be bringing their A game.

“We are really looking forward to play against Vietnam, a good team. They are leading the group and from my point of view is the strongest team in the group and the team to beat,” Capellas said.

“Tomorrow we have a fantastic opportunity to prove to ourselves that we’re able to beat these kinds of teams.”

For Vietnam head coach Kim Sang Sik, they will be going all-out against the Filipinos as they aim to clinch three more points to book their place in the semis.

“So, ahead of tomorrow’s match, I am feeling very excited right now. All the players are very ready, despite the tight schedule,” Kim said.

“So, tomorrow’s match is our match that can finally decide our position in our group and also, once again, let us know whether we will be in the semifinals or not. We need points for tomorrow’s match, so the players will do their best out on the field.”