Despite strong home support at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, the Azkals’ 2026 World Cup Qualifying campaign started on the wrong foot, with a 2-0 defeat against 94th-ranked Vietnam to open Group F play.
Wearing their popular white kits, the home side started brightly against their ASEAN neighbours. OJ Porteria could’ve taken the lead with a good shot inside the penalty area, saved only by Vietnamese keeper Dang Van Lam after 10 minutes. Patrick Reichelt also had a chance early on, hitting a cross from Mike Ott into the side netting with 12 minutes played.
Vietnam got the lead on a breakaway in the 16th minute, as Nguyen Van Toan took advantage of a brief lapse from the home defence to run past his markers and slot the ball home for the Golden Star Warriors.
Nguyen Van Toan again threatened for the visitors, but his shot went over the bar in the 31st minute. Both sides continued to exchange chances, but Vietnam slowed down the tempo of the match with the lead in hand heading into halftime.
Egged on by the 10,378 fans in attendance, the hosts waxed hot early in the second period, with Mike Ott blasting the ball just over the bar from distance. Vietnam caught the Philippines’ defensive line high up on a number of occasions, but captain and veteran goalkeeper Neil Etheridge came up with crucial saves to stay in the match.
The Azkals pushed on for the equalizer but could not get on the scoresheet, missing top prospects going forward like Sandro Reyes and Sebastian Rasmussen, and key players like John-Patrick Strauss and Gerrit Holtmann.
Atletico Madrid youngster Santi Rublico had the best chance in the 76th minute, but his attempt went just wide. An 84th-minute free kick by the Azkals just outside the box was dealt with by the visitors, as was substitute Bienve Marañon’s attempt inside the 6-yard box moments later.
The Vietnamese then sealed their 2-0 win late into stoppage time through substitute Nguyen Dinh Bac, who broke through an Azkals defence caught on the counter once again.
The Philippines continue their World Cup and Asian Cup qualifying campaign in Group G, and will be once again looking to its home fans for support against another ASEAN rival in Indonesia, on Tuesday, November 21 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Future chemical engineer and longtime football fan, Dann’s passion for the beautiful game has grown from the Miracle in Hanoi days, and he has been a Manchester United fan since. With a keen interest in the analytics side of the sport, he runs his own blog CounterPressPH, and has been covering the local game with Eat Sleep Breathe Football.
Follow Dann on X – CounterPressPH
