Pinoy U-23 booters bow to Cambodians

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines ended its campaign in the Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship 2016 qualifiers on a sour note, losing to Cambodia in its final Group G assignment, 1-3, Tuesday at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Playing for pride after getting the boot as early as Sunday with two consecutive setbacks, the U-22 Azkals couldn’t stop the Cambodians’ searing attack, especially midfielder Chan Vathanaka, who netted a brace at the fifth and 10th minute marks.

Striker Soeuy Visal made it 3-0 six minutes later and it was essentially over by then as the Filipinos could only settle for one “harmless” goal the rest of the way – courtesy of Jorrel Aristorenas who broke through a minute into second-half stoppage time.

North Korea and host Thailand played to a scoreless draw to finish with identical seven points on 2-1-0. But on the strength of a superior goal difference (7 versus 5), the North Koreans took the group honors and its corresponding seat to the AFC U-23 final round, which will serve as a qualifying event for the Rio Olympics.

Cambodia finished third in the group with three points ahead of the winless Pinoy booters, who earlier lost to North Korea (0-4) and Thailand (1-5).