The Philippine Men’s Under‑23 National Football Team closed its 20th Asian Games campaign on a historic note, defeating Kuwait, 2‑1, on Tuesday afternoon.
Already eliminated from quarterfinal contention following defeats to Uzbekistan and Vietnam, the Filipinos entered their final Group C match looking to finish the tournament with a victory.
The Philippines made a strong start and took the lead in the 19th minute. Michael Baldisimo sent a cross from the right, which Santi Rublico controlled with his chest before finishing from close range to give the Filipinos a 1‑0 advantage.
The Philippine defense then held firm to protect the lead. Christian Rontini twice tested Kuwait goalkeeper Abdulredha Shehab with headers from Antoine Ortega’s long throws, while goalkeeper Nic Guimaraes and the backline dealt with Kuwait’s attacking attempts.
Kuwait Levels the Match
The Philippines continued to create opportunities after halftime, with John Lucero coming close in the 62nd minute when his inswinging corner struck the woodwork.
Kuwait eventually found the equalizer four minutes later. Jasem Alenezi sent a cross into the box, but Philippine defender Scott Woods inadvertently redirected the ball into his own net, bringing the match level at 1‑1.
With both sides searching for a winner, the Philippines continued to push forward in the closing stages. Substitute Jax Peña provided additional energy and came close to scoring with two attempts.
Andres Aldeguer Delivers Late Winner
The decisive moment arrived in stoppage time. Peña was fouled inside the penalty area by Saleh Almehtab, giving the Philippines a late penalty. Andres Aldeguer stepped up and calmly converted from the spot in the 92nd minute to restore the Philippine lead.
Aldeguer’s winning goal also carried a remarkable historical connection. His great‑grandfather, George Aldeguer, scored the winning goal when the Philippines last won an Asian Games men’s football match in 1958—a 1‑0 victory over host Japan in Tokyo.
The Philippines held on through the final minutes to secure the memorable 2‑1 victory.
Historic Victory Closes Campaign for Philippine Football
The result gave the Philippines three points and a third‑place finish in Group C, ending its Asian Games campaign with one victory and two defeats. Head coach Garrath McPherson expressed his pride in the players and staff following the historic result.
“I feel very happy for the players, the staff, and the supporters both here in Japan and at their homes across the globe. I feel honored to be in a position to work with the players and staff we have in the U23 program—we continue to grow and learn together,” McPherson said in the post‑game interview. “Big tournaments like these give us a greater level of challenge, push us to our limit. This is how we grow,” he added.
The lone victory ended a 68‑year wait for Philippine football in the Asian Games. The team’s last appearance before this tournament came in 1974, making its return to the continental competition a significant milestone despite missing out on the knockout stage.
