PHL outlasts Thailand in penalties to claim maiden SEA Games finals berth

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

What a way to make history.

After consecutive years of heartbreak in the Southeast Asian Games, the Philippine Women’s National Football Team finally secured its first-ever grand finals appearance, stunning host nation Thailand in the semifinal round on Dec. 14, 2025, at the Chonburi Daikin Stadium in Thailand.

When 120 thrilling minutes weren’t enough to decide the see-saw semifinal showdown, the Filipinas saved their best for last, pouncing on Thailand during the penalty shootout, 4-2, and setting up a highly anticipated championship clash with Vietnam.

The Filipinas had to call on the football gods to pull off the victory after Thailand was whistled for a handball violation with only five minutes remaining in regulation.

Trailing 0-1 with time not on their side, Jael Marie Guy stepped up in the pressure situation and repaid the trust of the national team’s coaching staff when she converted the game-tying kick in the 87th minute.

In a crazy turnaround in the dying minutes of the game, a roller coaster of emotion stung the hosts as they failed to deliver in the extra time, which went scoreless.

The Filipinas then took advantage of the moment, capitalizing on Thailand’s deflated body language during the tense penalty shootout.

Guy set the tone for the Filipinas after drawing first blood with an easy conversion, but the Thais were quick to respond with a penalty of their own for a 1-1 deadlock.

Alessandrea Carpio replicated Guy’s calm and collected goal that gave the Filipinas a 2-1 lead, but Thailand’s Dangda Taneekarn countered for the second tie of the shootout.

As the penalty progressed, the pressure intensified.

Bolstered by their FIFA Women’s World Cup and AFF Women’s Championship experience, the Filipinas didn’t fold, banking on Sara Eggesvik and Hali Long’s successful makes to cap off the semis with a come-from-behind victory and a first trip to the SEA Games gold medal game.

Unfortunately for the Thais, a back-to-back trip to the penalty area all went off, with Sontisawat Pluemjai and Waeengoen Orapin both failing to get past PHL’s Olivia McDaniel.

All the sweat, tears, and hard work of the Filipinas will be put on the line tomorrow, as they are ready to face Vietnam for the SEA Games women’s football supremacy.

LABAN, FILIPINAS!