The Philippine men’s national football team fell to Myanmar, 1–4, in their ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 Group B opener on July 28, 2026, at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
CAPAS, TARLAC (UPDATED) – The Philippine Men's National Football Team absorbed a tough 4-1 defeat to Myanmar to open its campaign in the ASEAN Championship on Tuesday at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.
The match proceeded as scheduled despite heavy rains soaking the pitch minutes before kickoff, with over 3,000 fans present in the stands.
Myanmar found the breakthrough goal early in the match, with a header from Kyaw Min Oo off a corner kick in the seventh minute.
The visitors stayed aggressive with several attempts but were saved by Philippines goalkeeper Quincy Kammeraad.
Javier Mariona, Sandro Reyes, and Jarvey Gayoso had multiple chances to put the Philippines on the board in the first half but ultimately failed to convert.
In the 28th minute, Myanmar doubled its lead to 2-0 following a left-footed strike from Than Paing off an assist from Maung Maung Lwin.
Gayoso breathed life into the Philippines' campaign, scoring the breakthrough goal for the Filipino booters in the 68th minute. The 29-year-old forward converted a cross from Mariona, striking from the center of the box to find the left corner.
After a request for VAR (video assistant referee), the goal was confirmed, putting the Philippines on the board, 2-1.
Win Naing Tun powered in a header from a Hein Htet Aung cross to give Myanmar a commanding 3-1 lead in the 81st minute.
Two minutes later, Than Paing scored his second goal to make it 4-1 for the visitors.
For Than Paing, who earned Player of the Match honors, he said the team was determined to bounce back after the 2-1 loss to Malaysia last week.
"One game before this, we lost to Malaysia 2-1. So never mind [that]. Don't give up. We came here, we believe. Everyone believe, the coach, everyone believe," he said during the post-match press conference.
Myanmar coach Jørn Andersen said the weather and pitch conditions did not deter his players' spirit and desire to take the win on the road.
"Before this game today, we said we will play like that again, fight like that again, and that's what the team did today. Today, we could score. We have more luck. We could score and we will win the game," Andersen said.
"I think after halftime, I think we will go down, we have no more power. But they have a good character, they have a good heart, and they want to fight for Myanmar, and they want to win this game. So I was very happy today. I'm very proud of the players," he added.
Despite the Philippines dominating possession, Andersen said his team made the most of their touches to create chances and score goals.
"Myanmar is not a big team with many good players who can play tiki-taka like Spain or like Argentina. They have to use this strength that we have. We have this strength that we can play quick in the front, we can bring crosses, we can score goals, this we can do," he pointed out.
"We are not a big team who can play 90 minutes, keep the ball possession, everything like that. So we have to use this, what we can do, and if we can use that like today, we can win games like this today," Andersen explained.
As for the Philippines, coach Carles Cuadrat said the tough loss will be a learning experience for the youth-laden squad.
"We have players that can really put the opponents in troubles. But most of the match, it was not possible with that conditions of the pitch. Unfortunately, it's part of football. I mean, we have to understand that. We also have to try to be competitive under these circumstances," Cuadrat said.
"It's a learning match. I think that, of course, we are very angry with the result. We don't like to lose at home. It's the first match that we are losing for a long time. But I think that the new generation, the kids that have been representing the country, can learn a lot from that game and it's going to be useful for them in the future," he added.
The Philippines will go on the road for its next assignment against Laos at the Lao National Stadium on August 1.
"We have to be positive. We know that it's only the first game and there is nine more points to be played... So now, if we go and we win in Laos, we are going to have more points, we are going to have three points. So this is the message, to be competitive, to keep learning," Cuadrat said.