CAPAS, Philippines – Philippines national football team kickstart their Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign with a convincing 4-1 victory over Maldives at New Clark Stadium on March 25, 2025.
The game saw the Philippines dominate from the start, securing crucial points in Group A as they’re aiming to be one of the few teams to qualify for the prestigious tournament in Saudi Arabia.
Philippine midfielder Jefferson Tabinas opened the scoring in the 6th minute, marking his first goal in the third phase of the qualifiers. Fans erupted as Margueritte, a local supporter, cheered, “THE TABINAS CONNECTION 🤩!” The early goal set the pace for the home team, pushing Maldives to play defensively right from the jump.
As the first half progressed, Bjorn Martin Kristensen added to the lead with another goal in the 33rd minute, making it 2-0 for the Philippines. His performance had fans raving with excitement across the stands.
The Maldives managed to respond when striker Ali Fasir found the net in the 45th minute, closing the half at 2-1 to keep their hopes alive.
In the second half, the Philippines came back looking stronger. In the 79th minute, Randy Schneider netted a goal to restore the two-goal lead at 3-1, bringing cheers of “PHILIPPINES UP!” from home supporters.
In stoppage time, Sandro Reyes sealed the win with a stunning stoppage-time goal to secure a 4-1 victory, much to the delight of the crowd. “We played our hearts out, and our goal is clear – we need to qualify,” Reyes expressed after the match.
The Philippines now leads Group A with 3 points, level with Tajikistan, who also won against East Timor. Only the top team from each group will progress to the Asian Cup.
Coach Albert Capellas’ tactical decisions excelled throughout the game, boosting both team morale and performance. On the other hand, Maldives coach Alli Suzain made five substitutions but could not turn the tide.
The match was not without its challenges, as both teams endured cloudy weather and a persistent threat of rain during the game, with temperatures hovering around 29 degrees Celsius.
Next up for the Philippines is a qualifier against Tajikistan, a match that promises to be thrilling as they continue their journey towards the Asian Cup.
As the Philippine team looks ahead, this performance serves as a strong foundation. With passionate fans rallying behind them, they aim to qualify for the Asian Cup and make their country proud.
