SEA GAMES 2011: LATE BELOYA DOUBLE DELIVERS PHILIPPINES FIRST WIN

LEBAK BULUS (11 Nov 2011) – A late double from striker Joshua Beloya delivered the Philippines their first win in Group B of men’s football that was played at the Lebak Bulus Stadium.

The Filipinos had opened their campaign with a 3-1 loss to Vietnam before succumbing to a 2-1 loss in their second tie.

But after having a few days’ rest; the Philippines were more resolute today as they pushed hard through Manny Ott stoking the engine room as Jason de Jong attempts to provide the balance in the backline.

And Manny (pix) as the captain led by example when he found the space and time to slot the lead on sixth minute before his opposite number Lamnao Singto found the equalizer in the 37^th minute.

The score at the end of the first half was 1-1.

But while the Philippines were hoping to build on their first half performance, it was Laos who grabbed the lead when he beat the off side trap for a shot to the left past keeper Roland Muller.

The script was well written thus far but the story is far from however. In their eagerness to get back into the game and find the equalizer, the Filipinos lost Partrick Hinrichsen for a second yellow card offence.

The loss of Hinrichsen forced Philippines chief coach Michael Weiss to bring in Joshua Beloya and Mark Andrew Hartmann with the duo adding more pace and variant in the attack.

As Laos seem to taper down with the lead they had, the Philippines pushed forward and four minutes to the end, a cross from the right was picked up by Mark Hartmann who then beat goalkeeper Sourasay Keosouvandeng for an unselfish pass to Beloya, who had the easiest of tap ins.

The score line is anything but over. Deep in injury time, Beloya was again in the thick of the action with Hartmann again playing the feeder role for the former to score the winner and the first three points for the Philippines.

SEA GAMES 2011 RESULTS and FIXTURES

GROUP B