Filipinas end 37-year SEAG medal drought with comeback win vs. Myanmar

Quinley Quezada gets a hug from her teammates after scoring the bronze medal-clinching goal for the Filipinas. Raymond Braganza/PWNT
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Three years ago, despite home field edge, the Philippine women's football team was denied of a chance to end a medal drought in the Southeast Asian Games when Myanmar won the bronze against them.

On Saturday night in neutral grounds, the Filipinas' long wait came to an end against the same Burmese squad.

The Filipinas secured a spot in the SEA Games podium for the first time in a long while after rallying back to beat Myanmar, 2-1, in their third place match at the Cam Pha Stadium in Cam Pha, Vietnam.

When it seemed like a lost hope already for the Filipinas after struggling to find an answer to Myanmar's opening goal, Sarina Bolden and Quinley Quezada connived for the Philippine team's quick turnaround that stole the victory for them.

Win Theigi Tun opened the account for Myanmar with a penalty kick in the 24th minute.

Despite being the better offensive team later on, the Filipinas could not find an equalizer for the latter part of the first half and early into the second half.

The comeback began in the 73rd minute when Bolden blitzed part the Burmese backline and shot a powerful goal that keeper May Zin New could not stop.

Quezada then gave the Filipinas the lead in the 76th minute with a curler from inside the box.

Hali Long then provided help defensively with a huge tackle to stop Khaing Thazin's run to the goal in the 87th minute, which turned out to be Myanmar's last decent offensive play of the match.

This is the Filipinas' first medal since also winning the bronze in Bangkok in 1985, ending a drought that lasted for 37 years.

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