The Philippines stumbled to Laos, 1-2, last Tuesday and found itself in a precarious position in the Suzuki Cup Qualifying Tournament at the National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Wilting under the stifling afternoon heat, the Filipinos saw their early 1-0 lead vanish as the Laotians proved more resilient by knocking in two goals in the second half to complete their successful comeback.
Striker Visay Phapyounin took a cross from Khaysone Soukhavong to fire in the go-ahead marker in the 60th past RP goalie Neil Etheridge. That kept Laos in contention after losing its first match to host Cambodia, 2-3, last Oct. 17.
The win also duplicated its 2-1 triumph over the Azkals when the two squads met in the qualifiers held in Bacolod two years ago.
On the other hand, coach Juan Cutillas’ charges, whose stint is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and Mizuno, absorbed their first loss in three meetings and must now prevail against host Cambodia today to fortify their hopes of clinching one of two slots in the main draw in December.
The Filipinos nipped the Cambodians, 1-0, in the same Bacolod qualifying tournament in 2008.
The contest remained wide open after Brunei, which drew 1-1 with the Philippines last Sunday, whipped Timor Leste, 4-1, in the other match to find itself surprisingly on top of the five-nation tourney.