Sporting Kansas City midfielder Martin Steuble started and played 82 minutes Wednesday as the Philippines were eliminated from the 2014 Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup after a 3-0 defeat to Thailand in the semifinal second leg. The result at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok sent Thailand to the finals with a 3-0 aggregate victory.
Following a 0-0 draw in Saturday's first leg, Thailand took an early lead through striker Thanaship Songkrasin before winger Kroekrit Thawikan scored a second-half brace to seal the Philippines' fate.
A right winger in the Philippines’ 4-2-3-1 formation, Steuble recorded his fifth straight Suzuki Cup start and contributed one of the Azkals' three shots on target. He received a second yellow card in the 82nd minute, ending his streak of playing every minute in the tournament.
Thailand will face either Malaysia or co-host Vietnam in the two-legged Suzuki Cup finals, to be played Dec. 17 and 20. Vietnam currently holds a 2-1 aggregate lead and will host Malaysia in tomorrow's decisive second leg.
The Azkals started the Suzuki Cup brightly, dispatching Laos 4-1 and Indonesia 4-0—a match in which Steuble scored—to surge atop Group A. Defeat to Vietnam in the final group stage match relinquished their top spot and pitted them against Group B winner Thailand in the semifinals. Coached by former United States Men’s National Team captain Thomas Dooley, the Philippines is ranked No. 128 in the latest FIFA rankings.
Steuble’s 17 caps in 2014 are the most by a Sporting KC player this year. He 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.
The 26-year-old midfielder joined Sporting KC on July 16 from Swiss side FC Wil 1900, featured in an international friendly against Manchester City on July 23 and made his MLS debut against the Philadelphia Union on Aug. 1 for the first of three league appearances. He previously spent his entire professional career in Switzerland, featuring for FC Wil 1900, Grasshopper Zurich, Lausanne Sport, FC Wohlen, and Neuchâtel Xamax.
Steuble is one of seven Sporting KC players to compete on the international level in 2014, joining Matt Besler (USA), Graham Zusi (USA), Lawrence Olum (Kenya), Jorge Claros (Honduras), Soony Saad (Lebanon) and Erik Palmer Brown (USA U-20).
