Pinoys draw with Laos in Bolkiah Cup

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Under-21 team gave up a late penalty to 10-man Laos U-21 to settle for a 2-2 draw Friday night at the start of the fifth Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy at the Berakas Sports Complex in Brunei.

Jason de Jong, one of the reinforcements from the seniors team Azkals, put Phl XI in front with his 76th minute strike but the Laotians managed to squeeze in the equalizer with a spot kick by Ketsada Souksavanh in injury time to salvage a tie.

According to the report of Brunei Times, the Laotians played a man short from the 18th minute on after Sitthideth Khanthavong was sent off.

Azkal mainstay OJ Porteria put the Pinoy booters on the board with his 42nd minute connection and they held on to it until the 74th when Tiny Bounmalay fired the equalizer.

Not long after, de Jong struck to restore the lead for the U-21 Azkals before that penalty that eventually  gave Phl and Laos one point each in Group A.

Meanwhile, Myanmar U-19 stunned Thailand U-19, 3-2, to get three points and top spot in the group.

Maung Maung Soe scored a brace (45’ and 79’) while Than Paing knocked in the marginal goal in the 84th minute as Burmese wiped out a 1-2 deficit for the huge win.

Malaysia U-21 and Indonesia U-19 played to a scoreless draw in the lone Group B match on opening night.