Philippines - who lost 10 of their previous 12 meetings against Thailand in this competition - started on the front foot with their pressure paying off in the 21st minute.

Sandro Reyes picked up the ball at the edge of the box, shifted to his left before rifling a shot into the top corner beyond Patiwat Khammai for his second goal of the competition, having scored against Laos in the group stage.

A stung Thailand, with star midfielder Supachok Sarachat making his first appearance after recovering from a hamstring injury, would go on to end the first half in dominant fashion.

The equaliser came in the 45th minute when Thailand broke forward from a Philippines corner kick with Suphanan Bureerat finishing off a cross from Patrik Gustavsson.

It was a more cagey affair in the second half as the opportunities dried up with Thailand coming close late on when Akarapong Pumwisat ran through but found his shot blocked by Quincy Kammeraad before Worachit Kanitsribumphen drilled the rebound wide.

Just when it looked like the game was going to end in a stalemate, Linares nodded home from close range after Paul Tabinas had got at the end of Zico Bailey’s free-kick.