The Philippine Men’s National Football under 23 team has made history as they beat Brunei last July 21 to advance in the semifinals of the ASEAN U-23 championship.
PMNFT Caps Group Stage with Commanding Win Over Brunei
The PMNFT U-23 team carved their name in the history of the ASEAN U-23 Mandiri Cup 2025.
Their dominant performance at the Patriot Candrabhaga Stadium marked not just their second win in the group stage but also the most successful campaign in the team’s history. More importantly, it eventually secured the Philippines a spot in the semifinals for the first time since the tournament’s inception in 2005.
Javier Mariona opened the scoring in the 20th minute, calmly converting a penalty after Jax Peña was fouled inside the box by Brunei defender Wafiq Danish. The Philippines had several other early chances, with Andres Aldeguer and Jaime Rosquillo nearly scoring in the first 10 minutes, but Brunei goalkeeper Hisyam Norihwan was sharp throughout, denying multiple clear attempts. The second goal came late, with substitute Harry Nuñez slotting in a Mariona cutback in the 85th minute to seal the win.
FINAL SCORE: Philippines 2 – 0 Brunei
Nuñez’s composed finish and overall impact earned him the Man of the Match honors.
The victory gave the Philippines six points, finishing second in Group A behind host Indonesia. The Filipinos earlier secured a 2-0 win over Malaysia and narrowly lost 1-0 to the SEA Games champions, Indonesia. Their strong showing left them waiting for the results of the final matches in Groups B and C to determine their semifinal fate.
Dominance Despite Missed Chances and Delays
From the first whistle, the Philippines dictated the pace and tempo of the match against Brunei.
They controlled possession and out-shot their opponents 8-0 in the first half alone. The squad’s intent was clear, with early attempts from Aldeguer and Rosquillo narrowly missing the back of the net. Mariona’s penalty gave the Philippines a deserved lead midway through the first half, and the team continued to press for more.
Brunei’s situation worsened early in the second half when defender Azrin Danial was sent off for handling a goal-bound shot from Uriel Dalapo, resulting in a penalty. However, Otu Bisong Banatao who apparently had come on as a substitute unfortunately failed to convert from the spot, his weak attempt easily saved by Norihwan.
Despite playing a man down, Brunei showed resilience, with Norihwan continuing to frustrate the Filipinos with crucial saves. But the breakthrough came once again through Mariona’s involvement. In the 85th minute, he created space on the left flank before delivering a pinpoint cutback to Nuñez, who made no mistake with his finish.
While the 2-0 scoreline reflected the Philippines’ control, the match could have ended with an even larger margin if not for Norihwan’s standout performance between the posts.
Securing a Breakthrough Semifinal Berth
That fate was sealed on Tuesday evening when Vietnam defeated Cambodia 2-1 and Thailand and Myanmar settled for a goalless draw.
These results ensured the Philippines advanced as the tournament’s best second-placer, clinching a historic spot in the final four. It was a monumental step for the program, which had never progressed past the group stage in previous editions which also included its appearances in 2005, 2019, 2022, and 2023.
Head coach Garrath McPherson attributed the success to the grit and growth of his players. Despite having only a short preparation time, McPherson praised the team for displaying maturity and composure under pressure.
“Momentum is crucial in tournament football, and we’ve successfully ridden the wave of emotions this past 7 days. The team has grown in confidence with every game, winning tonight provides more confidence. We have achieved all of this with only a one week training camp leading in, I am proud and happy for the players and staff. I trust the supporters back home are proud of the character and spirit of this group,” said Head Coach Garrath McPherson during the post-match press conference.
A New Chapter for Philippine U-23 Football
The win over Brunei symbolized a turning point for the Philippines’ U-23 program.
With 2 victories and 6 points, they achieved their first winning record in the ASEAN U-23 Championship and surpassed their previous campaigns in both performance and results. Their six-point finish in Group A stands as their highest-ever group stage total in the tournament’s history.
Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President John Gutierrez expressed pride in the team’s historic achievement:
“Congratulations to the U23 national team. Your campaign in the ASEAN Championship has been truly inspiring. We commend every player, coach and staff for what you have achieved thus far. We thank all the fans that have shown their support. Together, let’s continue building on this.”
He then gave Javier Mariona and Harry Nuñez their flowers.
“Javier and Harry’s goals were crucial. They showed incredible resolve and skill when it mattered most.”
Up Next: Semis Clash Against Vietnam
The next challenge for the Philippine side is a daunting one: a semifinal clash against two-time defending champions Vietnam, scheduled for Friday, July 25, at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.
