RP XI faces Malaysia for place in history

The Philippines seeks to relive its finest moment in men’s football in the SEA Games when it plays Malaysia in a knockout duel for a seat in the semifinals at the Panaad Sports Complex today in Bacolod.

That great moment came 14 years ago at the Rizal Memorial Football Field when Norman Fegidero booted in a goal late in the final half to lead the Philippines to a 1-0 upset of then reigning champion Malaysia.

Miles away in the Malaysian peninsula, the upset triggered a big uproar calling for the immediate sacking of the Malaysian coach.

Past forward to 2005, and there’s the Philippines threatening to bump off Malaysia for a seat in the cross-over semifinal round.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is scheduled to watch the contest and she could well give the RP booters as big boost in their bid to gain their first medal in the games.

"We have a good chance and we’ll surely give them a good fight," said Philippine Football Federation executive vice president Tony Chua although the RP booters will miss mid-fielder Jeffrey Teves Liman having accumulated two yellow cards in their first two games.

The Philippines needs no less than a win to advance to the semis against Vietnam. With a better goal differential, Malaysia only needs a draw to make it to the next round.

The host team and Malaysia both have three points with identical 1-1 win-loss records in Group A. The Malaysians, however, enjoy an edge in goals made, having beaten the Cambodians, 5-2. The Nationals beat the Cambodians, 4-2.

"We lost a close game to Malaysia in the pre-SEAG tourney but we didn’t have yet our Fil-Am recruits then. The boys are in high spirits in their rematch with the Malaysians," said coach Aris Caslib. Minus brothers Philip and James Younghusband and the comebacking Ali Borromeo, the Nationals yielded a 1-2 defeat to the Malaysians in the pre-SEAG tourney in Bangkok in September.