The Philippine women's national football team. PFF-PWNFT
The Philippine women's national football team will have to hurdle the host nation if they hope to advance to the gold medal match in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games.
Thailand stands in the way of the Filipinas' bid for a historic spot in the finals of the women's football competition, with their semifinal clash set for Sunday at the Chonburi Daikin Stadium.
Kick off is at 7:30 p.m., Manila time.
"The girls are very excited," said Philippine coach Mark Torcaso ahead of the big test.
The Filipinas advanced to the semis in dramatic fashion, winning a nailbiter against Vietnam, 1-0, before thrashing Malaysia, 6-0, in their final group stage assignments.
READ: Filipinas clobber Malaysia to book place in football semis
READ: Hat-trick hero Alexa Pino emerges as co-scoring leader
They finished as second seed en route to a date with the Thais, who swept Indonesia, 8-0, and Singapore, 2-0, in Group A that was reduced to three teams following the withdrawal of Cambodia.
"Because of the draw, we've played three games and Thailand played two games, so they've got one less game on us. But we're going to be as prepared as possible to play this team," said Torcaso.
"And we believe we can win this game and we can play in the gold medal match. And that's what we want to do for our country and for all the people back at home in the Philippines," he added.
If successful, the Pinay booters will continue their history-making quest against either defending champion Vietnamese or Indonesia, which are set to dispute the other finals berth at 4 p.m. (5 p.m. Manila time) over at the Thailand National Sports University IPE Stadium.
The Filipinas are seeking to surpass their best performance in the SEAG of bronze, which they posted in the pandemic-delayed 2021 joust in Vietnam following a fourth place standing in 2019 in Laguna.
Last time in Cambodia, the team failed to get past group play, making this a redemption tour as well.
"It doesn't matter who we're facing. We're ready to go and we're gonna do our best and we're gonna give it all we got," said Alex Pino, who fired a hat trick in the semis-clinching romp over the Malaysians.