MALATE, Manila — Last night was a day of celebration as our national men’s football team stunned powerhouse Thailand in the face off where the Filipinos were the underdogs in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Mitsubishi Electric Cup semifinals at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The nationals scored the victory after Fil-Spanish player Enrique 'Kike' Linares Fernandez hit a last-gasp goal to give the Philippine men’s football team a stunning 2-1 win over the highly-totted Thai booters and take advantage after the first leg of the semifinal clash.

Linares, who plays center-back, scored the all-important goal right near the end of the five-minute stoppage time when he headed the winner off Paul Tabinas’ ball that came from Zico Bailey’s free kick that sent most of the 7,100 football fans in a frenzy.

Coach Albert Capellas’ wards held on for the historic victory—the first against the vaunted War Elephants since the 1972 Jakarta Cup, giving the team a good position to secure a first-ever final with a favorable result in the return leg set on Monday, December 30, at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium.

The Philippines must get at least a draw to advance in the prestigious competition but a loss by two goals will snuff any hopes for the national to fulfill this ambition.

Two extra time periods will have to be played, however, if the tie ends in a draw as the away goals rule is no longer applicable for the knockout stage of this year's tournament.