The Philippine Men’s National Football Team (PMNFT) concluded its Tri-Nation Friendlies campaign in emphatic fashion, dismantling Myanmar, 5-1, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium on Tuesday night.
Building on its 5-1 victory over Guam days earlier, the Philippines produced another commanding performance as they gained valuable momentum heading into next month’s Hyundai ASEAN Championship.
Philippines Breaks Through After Competitive First Half
The Philippines was made to work hard during a tightly contested opening half.
The home side threatened early when Daisuke Sato rattled the crossbar in the third minute, while Noah Leddel also tested Myanmar’s defense with a dangerous set-piece opportunity.
Myanmar, however, proved it was not in Manila merely to defend, creating several chances of its own and forcing veteran goalkeeper Michael Falkesgaard into action.
The visitors thought they had taken the lead in the 38th minute after finding the back of the net, but the goal was immediately disallowed for offside.
As both teams exchanged physical challenges and battled for control, the breakthrough finally arrived deep into first-half stoppage time. Andre Leipold initiated the move before delivering a low pass across the box, allowing Jeff Tabinas to finish from close range and hand the Philippines a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.
Tabinas Brothers Spark Second-Half Surge
Myanmar attempted to respond after the restart and enjoyed stretches of possession while searching for an equalizer. However, the Philippine defense remained organized, and Falkesgaard was steady whenever called upon.
The hosts doubled their lead in the 54th minute through Paul Tabinas. After combining neatly with Cole Mrowka in the attacking third, the younger Tabinas brother completed the move with a composed finish, making it a memorable evening for the footballing siblings.
The goal shifted momentum firmly in favor of the Philippines, which gradually took complete control of the contest through its superior possession and attacking movement.
Sebastian Rasmussen and Andre Leipold Finish Off Myanmar
The Philippines’ depth proved decisive in the closing stages.
Substitute Scott Woods helped create the third goal in the 80th minute, finding fellow substitute Sebastian Rasmussen, who calmly converted to seemingly put the match beyond reach.
Myanmar briefly showed signs of life when Win Naing Tun reduced the deficit two minutes later, but any hopes of a comeback were quickly erased.
Pocholo Bugas played a crucial role in the final moments, delivering two assists in quick succession. His first setup found Andre Leipold in the 88th minute, restoring the Philippines’ three-goal cushion. Moments later, Bugas again created an opportunity for Rasmussen, who completed his brace in stoppage time to seal the 5-1 victory.
The convincing result completed a perfect Tri-Nation Friendlies campaign for the Philippines, which outscored Guam and Myanmar by a combined 10-2 margin. More importantly, the Nationals head into the 2026 Hyundai ASEAN Championship full of confidence as they prepare to face Myanmar once again in their tournament opener on July 28.
PMNFT Group Stage Schedule
July 28 — vs. Myanmar
August 1 — vs. Laos
August 4 — vs. Thailand
August 8 — vs. Malaysia
