PMNFT dismantles Myanmar to cap Tri-Nation Friendlies

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The Philippine Men’s National Football Team (PMNFT) scored a dominant performance in the Tri-Nation Friendlies finale after crushing Myanmar, 5-1, on June 9, 2026, at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

After a demolition exhibition against Guam, the Filipino booters capped the friendlies in style, dominating the Myanmar national team from start to finish.

The PMNFT had several chances to break the game open in the first 35 minutes of action, but Myanmar managed to hold them scoreless, relying on its collective effort in fortifying the backline.

Just when Myanmar thought it could stay on the back foot and keep the 4,662 fans silent, Jeff Tabinas played spoiler and drew first blood for the PMNFT in the 45+1 minute.

Andre Leipold generated the offensive goal after firing a low cross pass to Tabinas, electrifying the Filipino fans who flocked to Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Myanmar kicked off the second half with tighter defensive coverage, immediately swarming the PMNFT every time it started its point of attack from the left side.

However, no matter what kind of adjustments Myanmar made, the PMNFT’s full offensive arsenal was on display, as Paul Tabinas doubled its advantage in the 54th minute with a precise tap near the penalty area.

It took the PMNFT 30 more minutes to add to its goal tally, courtesy of substitute striker Sebastian Rasmussen, who fired a crafty conversion in the 81st minute.

Although Myanmar answered with a consolation goal a minute after Rasmussen’s point, the PMNFT officially shut the door with two more goals in the 88th and 90+1 minutes.

Leipold, who delivered the pass to Tabinas for their first goal of the game, also turned into an offensive machine after scoring in the 88th minute.

Delivering the finishing touches was Rasmussen, who capped the friendly match with a brace as he found the net in the 90+1 minute.

The PMNFT will have only a month of rest before the ASEAN Hyundai Cup kicks off on July 28, 2026, in a home-and-away format across 11 Southeast Asian nations.