The Philippine men’s football team came from a goal down at halftime to beat Timor-Leste anew, 3-1, on Tuesday to restore its hold on top spot in Group A of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers at New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
Jefferson Tabinas, Bjorn Kristensen and Jarvey Gayoso scored in the second half as the Philippines overcame a scare when Timor-Leste struck the opener courtesy of Joao Rangel to repeat over the same team they beat five days earlier, 4-1, in Darwin, Australia.
By getting the full three points, the Philippines remained ahead of Tajikistan despite identical 10 points with two matches left in the third round of the continental qualifiers. Tajikistan beat Maldives, 3-0 in the other group match in Male.
Coach Carles Cuadrat’s side is ahead on goal difference which puts its chances of reaching the 2027 Asian Cup well on track. Only the group winner gets to play in that competition which will be held in Saudi Arabia.
The remaining matches, all away, are against Maldives on Nov. 18 and Tajikistan on March 31.
Timor-Leste struck in the first minute of the first half stoppage time when Rangel fired a curling shot that beat goalkeeper Kevin Ray Mendoza, stunning the mostly partisan crowd of 10,000.
It didn’t take long before the Philippines drew level as Tabinas scored off a corner kick a minute into the restart, putting the ball past Timor-Leste keeper Georgino from close range.
Kristensen would later resume his havoc on Timor-Leste as he put up his 13th goal in a Philippine shirt in the 70th to make it 2-1 in favor of the host with a go-ahead score inside the box off a cross from Jesper Nyholm.
It was his fifth goal in two matches against Timor-Leste after accounting for all four during the previous meeting in Darwin.
Gayoso sealed the deal in the 91st with a left-footed shot that assured the Philippines another full three points over its fellow Southeast Asian outfit.