Sporting Kansas City midfielder Martin Steuble played 90 minutes as the Philippines lost 3-1 to Vietnam in its final group stage match of the 2014 Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup on Friday.
The result at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam dropped the Philippines (2-1-0, 6 points) to second place in Group A, one point behind co-hosts Vietnam. The Azkals, who had clinched progression to the knockout rounds with comfortable wins over Laos and Indonesia, will face the Group B winner—either Thailand or Singapore—in the first of a two-legged semifinal on Saturday, Dec. 6.
Goals from Ngo Hoang Thinh (9’), Vu Minh Tuan (51’) and Luong Thanh Pham (58’) put Vietnam in the driver’s seat, and while a 60th-minute strike from Paul Mulders cut into the deficit, the Azkals were unable to salvage a point that was needed to win the group.
Steuble, who has played every minute in the tournament’s group stage, recorded two of the Philippines’ seven shots, created one goal scoring chance from the left side of midfield and was booked for a reckless foul in the 14th minute .
Coached by former United States Men’s National Team captain Thomas Dooley, the Philippines is ranked No. 128 in the latest FIFA rankings, released Thursday.
Steuble’s 15 caps in 2014 are the most by a Sporting KC player this year. He joined the MLS club on July 16 from Swiss side FC Wil 1900. He featured in the club's international friendly against Manchester City on July 23 before making his MLS debut against the Philadelphia Union on Aug. 1 for the first of three league appearances.
The midfielder previously spent his entire professional career in Switzerland, featuring for FC Wil 1900, Grasshopper Zurich, Lausanne Sport, FC Wohlen, and Neuchâtel Xamax. Steuble committed to the Philippines Men's National Team in 2013, made his international debut this March and scored his first Azkal goal in April. He competed in the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup in May, helping the Philippines to a second place finish.
Steuble is one of seven Sporting KC players to feature in international matches in 2014 along with Matt Besler (USA), Graham Zusi (USA), Lawrence Olum (Kenya), Jorge Claros (Honduras), Soony Saad (Lebanon) and Erik Palmer Brown (USA U-20).
