MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines closed out its campaign in the Asean Football Federation Under-19 Championship with a 1-3 loss to a Laos side backed by a home crowd of 12,000 at the National Sports Complex in Vientiane, Laos.
The Filipinos found themselves in a 0-3 hole in the first 45 minutes of play and failed to overcome the deficit against the Laotians, who went on to advance to the semifinals.
Phl XI rounded up Group B play with three points on one victory (2-1 over Brunei) and three losses.
Fancied Thailand thrashed Cambodia, 6-0, to rule the group with 12 points and secure the first semis berth. With its victory over the Pinoys, Laos finished with a second-best seven markers to claim the remaining Final Four berth.
The Pinoy U-19 booters inadvertently put Laos on the board with an own goal early on.
Piyaphong Pathammavong fired a smashing shot from close range to double the home side’s lead minutes later and hit the mark once more in the 37th to make it 3-0.
Mark Anthony Winhoffer scored in the 71st to pull Phl one goal back. The Filipinos pressed on for more goals but couldn’t find the target on attempts by Matthew Custodio, Dimitri Limbo and sub Chima Uzoka.