The Philippine Men’s National Football Team easily dismantled Timor Leste in their game last night, October 9, at the Territory Rugby League Stadium in Darwin, Australia, to top the Group A standings of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
Sandro Reyes and Bjorn Kristensen Were Blazing in the 1st Half
The young duo of Sandro Reyes and Bjorn Kristensen spearheaded the attack for the Philippines in the match against Timor-Leste.
The Philippines began with intent, immediately putting pressure on Timor-Leste’s defense. Their early persistence paid off in the 15th minute, when Sandro Reyes burst down the right flank and found Kristensen inside the box. His first shot was stopped by goalkeeper Georgino Jose Da Silva, but the Norwegian-Filipino forward reacted quickest to slot in the rebound and give the Philippines a 1–0 lead.
Timor-Leste nearly equalized soon after through Mouzinho de Lima, but he failed to control a dangerous cross inside the area. The Filipinos, however, maintained composure and doubled their advantage in the 31st minute. Kristensen collected the ball near midfield, accelerated past two defenders, and calmly finished into the bottom corner for his second goal, showcasing his blistering pace and clinical touch.
Before the break, Timorese skipper Paulo Freitas Gali attempted a long-range strike to reduce the deficit, but Kevin Ray Mendoza stood firm between the sticks, preserving the Philippines’ 2–0 halftime lead.
Kristensen, The Future of Philippine Football, Seals the Win
Timor-Leste came out firing in the second half, immediately pulling one back in the 47th minute. Freitas showed remarkable footwork to weave through the Filipino defense before striking past Mendoza to make it 2–1 and momentarily revive Timorese hopes.
The response from the Philippines was immediate and emphatic. Just two minutes later, substitute Dylan Demuynck whipped in a dangerous cross that ricocheted off defender Anizo Correia and onto the crossbar.
The rebound dropped perfectly for Kristensen, who tapped it in to complete his hat-trick and restore the two-goal cushion at 3–1.
The 23-year-old’s incredible evening continued in the 56th minute when 22-year-old Reyes sent a precise long ball from deep in midfield. Bjorn, who scored 2 goals against Tajikistan last June 10, timed his run perfectly, outpacing the chasing defenders before coolly placing the ball beyond Da Silva to secure his fourth goal of the night, which was also his 12th at the international level.
The Philippines nearly added a fifth in the 61st minute when Randy Schneider found himself in a one-on-one situation but narrowly missed. Kristensen, after his spectacular four-goal performance, was substituted off in the 62nd minute to a warm reception, making way for Sebastian Rasmussen, who marked his return to the national side.
Timor-Leste had a late opportunity to narrow the gap, but Zenivio Conceição Mota sent his 85th-minute attempt over the bar as the Filipinos comfortably managed the closing stages to seal the win.
FINAL SCORE: PHILIPPINES 4 – 1 TIMOR LESTE
Philippines on Top in Group A and Last Match on October 14
With the win, the Philippines now collects its second victory in three matches and keeps its unbeaten run alive in Group A, placing it provisionally on top of the table with seven points.
Having 2 Wins and 1 Draw, this increased the chances of the national team booking a spot at the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Bjorn Kristensen has now made 7 goals in the 3 matches of the Philippines in the 3rd Round of Qualifiers, which now solidifies his importance at the national squad.
The Philippines won against Maldives last March 25 2025 with a score of 4-1, and even though the Pinoys only settled for a Draw in a physical and intense match against Tajikistan last June 10, they are slowly getting into the winning momentum.
The Philippines is wrapping up its Round 3 competition on October 14, Tuesday, at their homecourt in New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac, as they play against Timor Leste one last time.
