The Philippine Women’s National Football Team kept their tournament hopes alive at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games after defeating the defending champions Vietnam on the evening of December 8, 2025, at the IPE Chonburi Stadium in Thailand.
A High-Stakes Match Against the Reigning Champions
With their semifinal aspirations hanging in the balance, the Filipinas entered their second Group B match determined to respond after a painful 2–1 opening defeat to Myanmar.
Vietnam, the four-time defending champions, also needed a result to secure early passage to the next round.
The Vietnamese opened the match with a compact shape, wary of the Philippines’ height and strength. The Filipinas, meanwhile, focused numbers through the middle to disrupt Vietnam’s buildup and create room for quick transitions.
Credits: Philippine Football Federation
Vietnam carved out early chances as Thai Thi Thao fired from distance in the 30th minute after spotting Olivia McDaniel off her line, while Hai Linh saw a close-range attempt blocked inside the box just before halftime.
The Filipinas, however, countered with aerial threats of their own, turning long balls and crosses into dangerous moments.
Filipinas Match Vietnam’s Intensity in a Fierce Second Half
Vietnam emerged from the break with renewed urgency, forcing the Philippines to weather sustained pressure.
Van Su’s shot took a deflection in the 53rd minute, and another effort moments later found its way to Bich Thuy, whose attempt beat McDaniel but was stopped by the recovering defense.
Despite the pressure, the Filipinas stayed composed. McDaniel and center-back Hali Long anchored the defensive line, denying Vietnam a breakthrough as both sides prepared for a tense finish.
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Mallie Ramirez Strikes to Break Vietnam’s Resistance
With the match seemingly headed for a stalemate, the turning point arrived deep in stoppage time.
Credits: Philippine Football Federation
McDaniel launched a long ball into Vietnam’s half after a foul on Megan Murray, and Long outjumped her marker to flick it into the penalty area. Alessandrea Carpio’s shot was brilliantly stopped by goalkeeper Trần Thị Kim Thanh, but the rebound fell straight to Mallie Ramirez.
The 21 year old striker reacted instantly, tapping the ball into the back of the net in the 90+4th minute to seal a dramatic victory.
Philippine Survives and Keeps Semis Hopes Alive
Vietnam threw everything forward after conceding, including a last-minute corner that the Filipinas dealt with confidently.
Seconds later, the final whistle confirmed one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.
FINAL SCORE: PHILIPPINES 1 – 0 VIETNAM
The win also mirrored the Philippine men’s shock victory over Indonesia earlier that evening as the two defending champions fell within minutes of each other, lifting the spirits of both Philippine squads.
For Ramirez, the goal was her second of the competition, following her strike against Myanmar.
For Vietnam, the loss spelled trouble, as they were unable to recover in time and found themselves slipping behind in the standings.
Group B Picture: Philippines Needing Multiple Goals
Following the second matchday:
- Myanmar leads the group with six points after defeating Malaysia 3–0.
- Philippines and Vietnam are level with three points each, but Vietnam holds a superior goal difference (+6 to 0).
- Malaysia remains at the bottom with no points.
The Filipinas must now beat Malaysia in their final assignment as well as ideally win by multiple goals in order to maximize their chances of advancing.
Their fate still depends on the Vietnam–Myanmar match.
Final Game of the Group Stage: 1 More Win
The group stage concludes on Thursday, December 11, with both fixtures kicking off at 5:00 PM (Manila time):
- Philippines vs. Malaysia
- Vietnam vs. Myanmar
With their tournament hopes revived and momentum on their side, the Filipinas now aim to finish the group stage with a performance strong enough to send them into the SEA Games semifinals for just the second time in history.
