Mallie Ramirez’s late heroics ignite Filipinas past reigning champion Vietnam in SEA Games

The Filipinas refused to let their SEA Games campaign fade quietly into the night.

With their semifinal hopes hanging by a thread, the young Philippine side found a spark in the most dramatic moment possible. 

Mallie Ramirez, playing in her first senior tournament, delivered a stunning goal in injury time to lift the Philippines to a gritty 1–0 victory over reigning champion Vietnam at the Chonburi FC Stadium — a result that has completely reshaped the race in Group B of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.

The match had been a tense, grinding contest from the opening whistle. Vietnam, eager to reassert their dominance, repeatedly pushed forward, while the Filipinas focused on discipline, physicality, and patience. But when the opportunity finally opened up in stoppage time, Ramirez seized it with maturity beyond her years. 

She pounced on a rebound inside the box and fired home the decisive strike, setting off an eruption from the Philippine bench and sending Group B into disarray.

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THAT MALLIE WOWIE

Mallie Ramirez does it again as she fires a last-minute goal to seal the victory for the Filipinas in their preliminary clash against Vietnam in the SEA Games 2025 Thailand Women’s Football tournament.#SEAGames33 #SEAGames2025 #TibayAtTatag pic.twitter.com/VeqGEwZQKT

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) December 8, 2025

The last-gasp winner was Ramirez’s second goal of the tournament, having previously scored in the Filipinas’ 2–1 loss to Myanmar — a match settled by a heartbreaking late Myanmar goal. This time, however, the script flipped in favor of the Philippines.

The result leaves the Filipinas level with Vietnam at three points, though still trailing on goal difference. Vietnam sits at +6, while the Philippines holds an even zero. Myanmar, now with two wins after a commanding 3–0 victory over Malaysia earlier in the day, stays atop Group B with six points.

What was once a predictable path for the defending champions has now become a three-way battle for two semifinal spots.

For the Philippines, the mission is now clear: defeat Malaysia in Thursday’s 5:00 PM (Manila time) simultaneous kickoff at the IPE Chonburi Stadium — and hope the final standings tilt in their favor. Vietnam, meanwhile, faces Myanmar at Chonburi Stadium in a showdown that could decide everything from seeding to who stays alive.

As the group stage reaches its climax, one thing is certain: Ramirez’s late strike has breathed new life into the Filipinas’ dream of breaking into the SEA Games Final Four.

And if momentum counts for anything, the Philippines just found theirs at the perfect time.

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