Now or never for Filipino booters

If the Philippine national men’s football team wants to end an eight-year wait to advance to the semifinals of the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup, it has to beat Indonesia tonight at the Manahan Stadium at Surakarta.

With the Nationals in the fourth spot in Group B after three draws in three games, they will have to fight tooth and nail to clinch a semifinals bid against an Indonesian side that will enjoy the support of the home crowd at 9 p.m. (Manila time).

The Garuda are in second place Group B with a 1-1-1 win-draw-loss record.

Only two teams per group will make it to the semifinals in this regional tournament.

The last time the Philippines made it past the elimination round was the 2018 edition of the tournament where the likes of Phil Younghusband, Stephan Schrock and Neil Etheridge played for the national team under head coach Sven Goran-Eriksson.

Last Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, the Filipinos were on the verge of boosting their semifinal chances after a tap-in goal from Jarvey Gayoso in the 68th minute in their match against Vietnam for a 1-0 lead.

But a late header by Doan Ngoc Tan in the seventh minute of added time forced a draw.

Now the Philippines needs to win against Indonesia to advance to the semifinals.

The Filipinos will also have to hope and pray that Vietnam wins or forces a draw against Myanmar on the same day to formally secure their spot in the semifinals.

Getting a win against the Garuda, however, will be easier said than done.

The Indonesians will be heading into the match well-rested after a six-day break.

The Garuda are also expected to play with fire in their eyes after a 0-1 defeat against Vietnam last 15 December.

Philippines head coach Albert Capellas said they need to control possession and get more chances in scoring.

Against the Vietnamese, the Philippines had the ball for 50 percent of the match.