Two late goals dashed the Philippines' hopes of progressing in the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy-Asean Under-21 Football Championship Tuesday night as host Brunei rallied to a 3-2 victory at the Berakas Sports Complex in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Stung by a 9-1 loss at the hands of Myanmar, the Filipinos appeared to have made amends for that defeat when Eliezer Obia Fabroada and Phil Younghusband struck in the first half for a 2-0 lead at the break. Fabroada scored on a simple tap in three minutes into the match, before Younghusband, a reserve at Chelsea, added another goal from the penalty spot in the 41st minute.

But Brunei found gaps on the Philippines defense and Haj Khairol Anwar took advantage of a lapse to head from close range in the 55th minute. Abdul Hafiz bin Ahad equalized with a long-range volley in the 88th minute, before captain Ak Mohd Kamarul Arffin scored on a penalty a minute into injury time.

"My players did their best tonight. But even though they were brought down many times, the referee didn't even call a foul," RP coach Bob Salvacion said in the hassan bolkiah trophy website.

The Philippines' last match will be against Cambodia, which was ongoing as of press deadline.

Also part of the team is Jason Panhay of the University of St. La Salle. *CPT

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