FIFA International Friendly | Tuesday, 9 June 2026 Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines | Referee: TBC
Five goals. One conceded. Three points of momentum going into the Asian Cup qualification cycle. A good Tuesday evening for the Philippines.
The Azkals beat Myanmar 5-1 at Rizal Memorial and it was not as straightforward as the final score suggests. Myanmar pulled it back to 3-1 at some point in the second half and genuinely believed they could make a match of it. Then Philippines scored twice more in the final stretch and that was that.
Neither side is going to the World Cup. Both came into this match having beaten Guam earlier in the window — Philippines 5-1, Myanmar 6-1. Myanmar’s goal difference was actually better on that shared reference point, which gave Tuesday’s match a bite it might not otherwise have had. Two teams building form for future competitions. The Rizal Memorial crowd gave them something to work for.
Philippines coach Carles Cuadrat named his strongest available lineup. Falkesgaard in goal. The Tabinas brothers — Paulo and Jesper — at right back and centre back. Sato and Reyes giving the side energy in wide midfield areas. Gayoso up front. Mrowka and Ott screening in the middle. Schneider on the right. And Axel Leipold — the forward who has been the most consistent scorer in this squad for the past eighteen months — starting as one of the attacking outlets.
The early exchanges were lively. Philippines pressed high and won the ball back regularly. Myanmar, in their 4-2-3-1, tried to build through the middle and use their attacking midfielder in the space behind their striker. It caused the Philippines defence some problems in the opening period but the Azkals were sharper going forward.
The goals came. Schneider, Gayoso, then Leipold got one in a first half that felt increasingly one-sided. Three-nil. The home crowd was celebrating and everything looked comfortable. Then Myanmar pulled one back midway through the second half — a well-worked move, finishing through the middle, and suddenly the Rizal Memorial went slightly quieter. 3-1. Myanmar believed.
They should not have. Philippines pressed on. The fourth came — a cross low down the left flank that deflected off a Myanmar defender past their own goalkeeper. Painful goal to concede. Philippines 4-1. And then Leipold scored his second. A low shot in the six-yard box that deflected in. Five-one. Final score.
Leipold finishing the game with two goals is the real story. He has been involved in this setup for several years now — part of the diaspora pool that Philippines football has drawn from across Europe, specifically Germany where he grew up — and his partnership with Schneider and Gayoso gives the Azkals a forward line with genuine quality at this level. Cuadrat has shaped this squad into something consistent. Ten unbeaten matches across all competitions coming into Tuesday. Seven wins in that run.
Myanmar had no answer for the Azkals’ pace and pressing in the final third. Their 6-1 demolition of Guam had suggested they might be sharper than their ranking implied. And in patches they were — the goal they scored showed tactical intelligence and composure in front of goal. But they could not sustain it against a Philippines side that kept coming at them in waves.
For Philippines, the Asian Cup qualifiers continue in September. They are building toward a competition that could take them to their first Asian Cup finals appearance in years. The form in this window — two wins, ten goals scored in two games — is exactly what the fanbase needed to see.
For Myanmar, the result is a reality check. The Guam win had given them something. Philippines took most of it away on Tuesday night at the Rizal Memorial. Back to the drawing board for their own qualification campaign.
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Philippines 5-1 Myanmar FIFA International Friendly | Tuesday, 9 June 2026 Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila | Referee: TBC
Goals: Schneider, Gayoso, Leipold, OG, Leipold (Philippines) | Myanmar goal (second half)
Philippines (4-1-4-1): Falkesgaard; P.B. Tabinas, Leddel, J. Tabinas, Sato; Reyes; Mrowka, Ott, Schneider, Gayoso; Leipold
Stats: Philippines unbeaten in last 10 matches (W7 D3) | Both teams scored | Half-time: 3-0
