The Philippine Online Chronicles

In the 26^th South East Asian Games, the Philippine Under-23 Football team escaped with a 3-2 win against Laos in Group B football action in Jakarta, Indonesia. Joshua Beloya made two huge goals in the final minutes to put the Philippines on top. Beloya scored the tying goal in the 90^th minute off a pass from Mark Hartmann. Minutes later, the 20-year old booter Beloya overpowered Laos’ Konekham Inthamav, before sending the winning goal to the right of the Laotian goalkeeper.

Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic stopped world number three Andy Murray of Great Britain for a 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 win in the Paris Masters in France. Berdych ended Murray’s 17-match winning streak and with the win, the 26-year old Czech player will be facing 16-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer of Switzerland in the semifinals.

26^th SEA Games: Azkals U-23 defeat Laos, 3-2

The Philippine Under-23 football team was on the verge of being eliminated in the football tournament of 26^th Southeast Asian Games. With Laos holding a 2-1 lead for the most part of the match, the Philippines’ chances of making it to the semifinals looked slim.

However, the Filipinos got their act together in the closing minutes to pull off a come-from-behind 3-2 victory that stunned the Laotians.

Bacolod striker Joshua Beloya scored a goal in the 90^th minute and another win in the third minute of injury time to give the Philippines its very first win in the football event of the 26^th Southeast Asian Games.

With the win, the Filipinos moved to third place behind East Timor and Myanmar in Group B and they’re in a position to make it to the semifinals if they win their next two assignments.

The Filipinos took an early 1-0 lead courtesy of a goal by Manny Ott in the eighth minute off a pass from Jinggoy Valmayor. In the 38^th minute, Laotian star player Lamnao Singto tied the match by lobbing a high kick over the Philippines’ Roland Muller. The 23-year old Singto struck again in the 47^th minute to put Laos ahead, 2-1.

The Philippines and Laos played a chess match for the entire second half, until Beloya made the tying goal in the 90^th minute off a flick from Mark Hartmann. In the third minute of injury time, Beloya made the winning goal to finally seal the deal for the Filipinos.

The junior Azkals will be facing Myanmar on Saturday and Brunei on Monday.

Tennis: Berdych stops Murray in Paris Open, faces Federer next

Tomas Berdych lost the first set against Andy Murray of Great Britain, but the Czech came back in the second and third sets to take the match and setup a showdown agains world number three Roger Federer in the 2011 Paris Open in Paris, France.

Berdych took a 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 win over Murray, who saw his 17-match streak broken. Murray was just two points away from closing out the encounter at 5-5 in second set, but the gritty Berdych held on to take the set and cruise in the third to take the match.

Murray has also become increasingly frustrated during the match especially when the umpire agreed to the request of Berdych to change balls. For his incessant complaining, Murray was given a warning.

In other matches, Federer easily defeated Juan Monaco of Argentina, 6-3, 7-5. In the first set, Federer was down 1-3, but he won the next five games to take the set. Meanwhile, world number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia pulled out from his quarterfinal match against Jo-Wilfred Tsonga because of a shoulder injury.

The 24-year old Djokovic also suffered a shoulder injury two weeks ago in the semifinals of the Swiss Indoors against Kei Nishikori of Japan.

Tsonga will now face John Isner of the United States who defeated David Ferrer of Spain, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.