Filipinas end Vietnam reign, capture first-ever SEA Games crown after thrilling shootout

CHONBURI, Thailand – The Philippine women’s national football team has a knack for making history through penalty shootouts.

It was no different on Wednesday, December 17, as the Filipinas captured a historic gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games as they denied Vietnam a fifth straight title by winning on penalties, 6-5, following a scoreless draw in a pulsating final at the Chonburi Daikin Stadium here.

Jael Marie Guy, Alexa Pino, Hali Long, Angie Beard, Ariana Isabella Markey, and Jaclyn Sawicki all converted on their penalties before goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel sealed the victory by stopping the last Vietnamese attempt. 

Celebration erupted when McDaniel blocked the shot of Tran Thi Thu as the Philippines became just the third nation to win the SEA Games title in women’s football, an event that had been dominated by the duopoly of Vietnam and Thailand. 

The SEA Games crown is another feather in the cap for the Filipinas, who rose to national consciousness following their historic qualification to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup when they beat Chinese Taipei on penalties in the quarterfinals of the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

A penalty shootout once again went in favor of the Filipinas as they reached the SEA Games gold-medal match for the first time by outlasting Thailand in the semifinals last Sunday, December 14. – Rappler.com