Bjorn Kristensen scored a brace, including the winner, as the Philippine men’s football team stunned Thailand, 2-1, on Friday to end its Fifa Asean Cup campaign on a bright note.
Kristensen struck the opener three minutes into the twice-delayed match in Bandung, Indonesia, before adding another in the 68th to give the Philippines the maximum three points.
Iklas Sanron equalized for Thailand in the 55th, before Kristensen came through with the goal that contributed to the Filipino booters’ rare win over the regional powerhouse.
The victory secured the Philippines a third-place finish in Group B with four points on one win, one draw and one defeat.
Thailand still advanced to the final to face host Indonesia, winner of Group A, with six points, while Asean Hyundai Cup champion Vietnam came in second, also at six points.
The Thais won the group after beating Vietnam, 2-0.
Coach Carles Cuadrat’s side opened the inaugural edition organized by Fifa with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Vietnam, coming close to salvaging a draw multiple times.
Last Tuesday, the Philippines squandered a two-goal lead and was held to a 2-2 draw by Pakistan, a country ranked 66 places lower than the Filipinos in the Fifa rankings.