Having exorcised one demon during the group stage with their victory over Indonesia, the Philippines will look to end another sorry record when they meet Thailand in the semi-finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup.
The Azkals had lost all of their five matches against Indonesia prior to this year’s tournament including a 13-1 drubbing in Jakarta in 2002 which remains the competition’s highest-ever scoreline. But they ended their record of futility against the Merah Putih in impressive fashion by thrashing them 4-0 to march into the last four for the third consecutive tournament.
Victory against the Thais would send Thomas Dooley’s side through to a first-ever ASEAN final but they face an even more daunting task against a team that has beaten them in all six previous meetings in the competition.
Their inaugural meeting in Singapore on September 2, 1996 was also the first-ever match for both teams in the ASEAN Football Championship and it proved to be a non-contest as the War Elephants strolled to a 5-0 victory with two goals each by Phithaya Santawong and Netipong Srithong-in and one by current Thailand national coach Kiatisuk Senamuang.
Such was the gulf in class then that the Philippines ended bottom of their group after losing all four games while Thailand went on to lift the trophy with Kiatisuk netting the lone goal against Malaysia in the final.
The teams met again two years later in Ho Chi Minh City in a much closer contest. Alfredo Gonzelez equalised for the Azkals on the half-hour after Worrawoot Srimaka had put the Thais after 21 minutes but second-half goals by Kritsada Piandit and Kairung Threejagsang, who is now an assistant coach under Kiatisuk, gave the Thais a 3-1 win.
Kiatisuk was again on target along with Anuruck Srikert in a 2-0 win over the Philippines in Chiangmai in 2000 as Thailand lifted the title for a second time, but while they again beat the Philippines 3-1 in 2004 with goals by Ittipol Poolsap, Sarif Sainui and Suriya Domtaison, it was not enough to help them get past the group stage.
The last two clashes between the teams, which have both taken place in group stage games in Bangkok, have been contrasting affairs.
The first at the Supachalasai Stadium in 2007 was another romp for the Thais as a brace by Sarayoot Chakamdee and a Pipat Thonkanya strike in the opening half-hour helped them to a 4-0 victory.
But the match at the Rajamangala Stadium two years ago was the closest match yet between the two teams. Two goals in a two-minute spell from Jakkapan Pornsai and Anucha Kitpongsri just before half-time put the Thais in control but Paul Mulders pulled one back in the 76th minute to set up a nervy closing spell for the hosts.
The Thais hung on for the win but the gap between the two teams had clearly narrowed and there will be plenty to play for when they meet again this year with a spot in the final at stake.