Filipinas overcome Thailand in penalties, book first-ever SEA Games finals trip

The Filipinas embraced as they reached the 2025 SEA Games women's football finals after overcoming host Thailand in the penalty shootout. (Photo: PFF/PWNFT)

The Philippine women’s national football team (PWNFT) rewrote history with a thrilling penalty shootout victory over host Thailand, 1-1 (4-2), in the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games semifinals at the Chonburi Stadium on Sunday, December 14.

The Filipinas booked the country’s first finals appearance in the 40-year history of the SEA Games women’s football tournament after trailing 1-0 early in the second half.

In succession, Jael Guy, Alessandrea Carpio, Sara Eggesvik, and Hali Long secured their penalties, while the Thais missed their last two spot-kicks to miss the finals ticket for the second straight edition.

Jiraporn Mongkoldee fired the War Elephants ahead in the 53rd minute before Guy scored her first international goal for the Philippines from the penalty spot to force extra time in the 87th minute.

Both sides had fair chances to find the breakthrough in the extra time, but just couldn’t find the back of the net, which set the stage for the shootout.

Tied at two-all, pressure got the best of Thailand as Pluemjai Sontisawat sent her penalty to the low end of the left post, while Orapin Waenngoen’s attempt went over the crossbar. They will face Indonesia, which lost to reigning champion Vietnam earlier, 5-0, in the battle for bronze.

Already surpassing their third-place finishes in 1985 and 2021, the PWNFT seeks to dethrone the Vietnamese side for the gold on Wednesday, December 17. They previously beat the latter in the group stages.