The Philippine Men’s National Football Team showed the character its campaign desperately needed, erasing an early setback with a dominant second-half performance to defeat Laos, 4-1, in the 2026 ASEAN Championship Hyundai Cup on Saturday in Vientiane.
Still searching for its first points after a 4-1 defeat to Myanmar in the tournament opener, the Philippines refused to let another match slip away.
Instead, the national team responded with four unanswered goals after halftime to revive their hopes of reaching the semifinals for the second straight edition.
Laos struck first through Damoth Thongkhamsavath, who gave the hosts the advantage and put the Philippines under immediate pressure.
Rather than panic, the visitors gradually took control of possession and began to dictate the tempo.
Their persistence finally paid off when John Lucero found the equalizer before Cole Mrowka’s dangerous effort was deflected off Laos defender Viengxay Sydavong in the 52nd minute to give the Philippines its first lead of the match.
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ASEAN HYUNDAI CUP 2026
Nakuha ng Philippine men’s national football team ang una nitong panalo kontra Laos sa group stage ng 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup nitong Sabado, August 1.
Tinalo ng Pilipinas ang host team, 4-1, sa New Laos National Stadium sa Vientiane. Nakabawi ang koponan… pic.twitter.com/3L9PbjXc4J
— News5 (@News5PH) August 1, 2026
Jarvey Gayoso extended the advantage from the penalty spot in the 60th minute, calmly converting his chance before team captain Daisuke Sato put the result beyond doubt with a header in the 88th minute, completing an emphatic 4-1 comeback victory.
Head coach Carles Cuadrat credited his players for refusing to let the difficult start define the match.
“Until we scored the second goal, it looked like everything was against us in this tournament. But what I’m happy about was that we changed our fortunes in the second half and it’s a good reward for the squad,” Cuadrat said.
The victory handed the Philippines its first three points of the competition and lifted the team to fourth place in Group B, keeping its semifinal aspirations alive with two group-stage matches remaining.
The timing of the win could not have been more important as the Nationals now prepare for arguably their biggest test of the tournament.
They will host Group B leader Thailand on Tuesday, August 4, at the New Clark City Stadium in Capas, Tarlac. Thailand enters the match with a maximum six points after opening the tournament with victories over Laos and Malaysia, including a 2-0 triumph against the Malaysians.
The meeting also rekindles one of Southeast Asia’s emerging football rivalries. The Philippines reached the ASEAN Championship semifinals in the previous edition and famously earned its first-ever semifinal victory over Thailand before narrowly falling 4-3 on aggregate after extra time.
Under Cuadrat, the national team is aiming to build on that breakthrough and make another deep run in the regional tournament.
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: RM Chua/One Sports