In the group stage, the Philippines women's team won 1-0 against the Vietnam women's team, thanks to Ramirez's goal in the 90+4 minute. This important victory opened up the opportunity for the Philippines women's team to continue, because in the opening match of the 33rd SEA Games, they lost 1-2 to Myanmar.
Throughout the journey from before the SEA Games to winning tickets to the finals, the Philippines women's team has faced many concerns about performance. They were eliminated from the group stage of the 2025 Southeast Asian Women's Football Championship and also faced countless challenges when they lost to Myanmar at the 33rd SEA Games.
However, after a 4-2 victory over the Thai women's team after a penalty shootout in the semi-finals, the head coach of the Philippines women's team, Mark Torcaso, believes that the whole team has finally dispelled all concerns.
How do I feel? A lot of emotions. vonhinh cam. There have been many doubts about some of our players over the past few months and they have proven themselves by reaching the gold medal final and I can't be more proud of them. They have been fighting tirelessly throughout this tournament, said Mr. Mark Torcaso.
Regardless of the final result, the Philippines women's team will achieve their best result ever at the SEA Games. Previously, the team only won 2 bronze medals at the 1985 and 2021 SEA Games.
However, the Philippines women's team wants to do more than that. They want to defeat the Vietnam women's team to win the gold medal, thereby affirming the strength of local football.
With a combination of veteran players and young talents, Torcaso is optimistic about what will happen in the 33rd SEA Games final and the future ahead.
In the past few months, the team has changed, a turning point and they are determined to reap success at the 33rd SEA Games as well as in the future. As I said, we have a very good combination of veteran players who have played hundreds of matches and a group of promising young players who have only played their first match in this tournament.
So our next match, the gold medal match, is an experience for them. This is the match we want to win, as well as a premise to prepare for the Asian Cup next year, said Mr. Torcaso.
The confidence of the Philippine women's team is well-founded when they have continuously defeated the Vietnamese women's team in the past few years. They beat Mai Duc Chung and his team 4-0 at the 2022 Southeast Asian Women's Championship, defeating the Vietnam women's team 2-1 at the 2023 SEA Games.
After the victory in the group stage of the 33rd SEA Games, the Philippine female players know that they must be more careful when meeting Huynh Nhu and her teammates again.
The final will be very difficult because the Vietnamese women's team is the defending champion and we defeated them in the group stage, so I know they will be very determined.
The Vietnamese team is used to the finals, but this is the first time we have experienced them. We are not tired. We only have one final match left and will end the SEA Games with a victory, said captain Hali Long.
The women's football final match between the Vietnamese women's team and the Philippines will take place on December 17.
