Filipinas fall to Myanmar in 2025 SEA Games opener

Sara Eggesvik in action for the Filipinas in their opening day loss against Myanmar in the 2025 SEA Games. (Photo: PWNFT/Facebook)

The Philippine women’s national football team (PWNFT) succumbed to Myanmar, 2-1, for a rough start in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games at the IPE Chonburi Stadium in Chonburi, Thailand on Friday, December 5.

May Htet Lu scored the game-winning header in the 89th minute for the last edition’s silver medalist during a counterattack to break the heart of the Filipinas.

In 2023, the PWNFT also lost to the Burmese squad in the group stage.

Come Monday, December 8, PWNFT needs a positive result against defending four-time champion Vietnam to stay alive in the tournament. Only the top two teams in each of the two groups will advance to the semifinals.

Myanmar took an early 1-0 lead in the fifth minute after skipper Win Theingi Tun fired a rocket to the top corner, punishing the Filipinas’ poor clearance from the backline.

The Filipina booters nearly equalized on several occasions but couldn’t find the back of the net, with Meryll Serrano’s header going over the crossbar in the 25th minute and Jael Guy’s cross falling short of finding Janae DeFazio.

The Philippines continued its assault in the second half and finally leveled the match with Filipinas' debutant Mallie Ramirez pouncing on the fumbled save by Myanmar keeper Myo Mya Mya Nyein off a Jessika Cowart header in the 69th minute.

Scoring opportunities came in succession for the Filipinas, but Myo Mya Mya Nyein was up for the task, redeeming herself with a double save against Alexa Pino’s brilliant solo effort and Guy’s rebound attempt in the 75th minute.

In the 86th minute, the Philippines took a blow after 17-year-old Nina Mathelus apparently sustained an injury and was helped off the field.

Three minutes later, the Chinthe Ladies found a crack in the Filipinas’ defense, and May didn’t relinquish the chance to give her side the full three points.