The Philippine Azkals got the win they needed to get, but other results did not fall their way.
The Philippines concluded their campaign in the 30th South East Asian Games men's football tournament with a 6-1 demolition of Timor Leste at the Binan Football Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Knowing that goal difference could be a factor in their passage to the next round, the Philippines got on board early through a Stephan Schrock strike in the third minute.
But Timor Leste would not go down without a fight, and had a goal disallowed in the 20th minute to scare the hosts. Edit Savio found the back of the net for the visitors, but Elias Mesquita was in an offside position in the attacking move prior.
Philippine striker Chima Uzoka also saw a goal chalked off six minutes later after straying in an offside position.
Despite multiple chances to double up their lead in the first half, the Philippines only broke through again in the 43rd minute. Defender Amani Aguinaldo's glancing header was enough to ensure that Schrock's delivery from the corner resulted in a goal.
It didn't take long for the Azkals to strike in the second half, with Mar Diano burying a header from a Schrock free kick that netted their third goal eight minutes after the restart.
Dylan De Bruycker got the fourth for the home team after slotting in a lay-off from Amani Aguinaldo in the 78th minute. Aguinaldo struck again for the Azkals after dribbling past the keeper to make it 5-0 with five minutes left in normal time.
Aguinaldo came up big again in the final minute of regulation, completing his hat-trick from close distance. But a consolation goal from a free kick from East Timor in injury time all but sealed the Filipinos' fate.
The Philippines continued to push for more goals, but could not find the back of the net another time.
Even if the Azkals secured a heavy victory against Timor Leste, they fail to advance to the semifinals due to an inferior goal difference to Cambodia. The Cambodians ran rampant against Malaysia, 3-1, in the simultaneous kickoff at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
The Philippines would have needed to beat Timor Leste by seven goals to advance.