Phl stuns Indonesia in SEAG football

CHONBURI, Thailand – To end 34 long years of early exits in Southeast Asian Games men's football, the Philippines U22 team needed to take down fancied titleholder Indonesia in a high-pressure Group C encounter Monday night in Chiang Mai.

Armed with grit and indomitable spirit, the Pinoy booters delivered big-time, stunning the Garuda Muda, 1-0, en route to making the semifinals for the first time since 1991 at home.

Otu Banatao’s header in the second minute of first-half stoppage time proved sufficient to give the Filipinos a smashing follow-up to their opening 2-0 shutout of Myanmar and a perfect six points for No. 1 in the three-team bracket.

Banatao perfectly timed a long throw-in that bounced to his area, beating Indonesian defender Rizky Raka Cahyana to the ball and nodding it past keeper Supriadi Cahya.

The Filipinos erupted into a frenzy at the 700thAnniversary Stadium, knowing full well the value of this goal in their mission to recreate the “Magic of 1991” and score a rare Final Four qualification in the 33rd edition of the Games here.

The troops of coach Garrath McPherson then held on to the 1-nil advantage in the second half, fending off the Indonesians’ spirited attempts to salvage a draw and put this massive win to bed.

Now safely through, the Pinoy booters have the chance to even surpass the feat of legendary crew led by Norman Fegidero, which upset Malaysia (1-0) and drew with Vietnam (2-2) on its way to a historic semis in 1991 at Rizal Memorial Stadium. The country went on to finish fourth that time, losing to Thailand in the Last 4 (2-6) and to Singapore in the battle for the bronze (0-2).