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PH Women's Football Team To Reach 2nd Round in AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying
Photo courtesy: PFF
The Philippines' national women's football team, known as the Filipinas, secured their place in the next round of the AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament with a resounding 4-0 victory over Hong Kong at Hisor Central Stadium on Tuesday.
The Filipinas, led by coach Alen Stajcic, displayed exceptional form throughout the group stage, sweeping Group E without conceding a single goal. They also secured convincing wins against Pakistan (4-0) and Tajikistan (8-0) in their first two matches, showcasing their dominance in the competition.
In the crucial match against Hong Kong, Sarina Bolden was the star of the show, scoring two goals with clinical finishes. Meryll Serrano and Quinley Quezada also found the back of the net, contributing to the Filipinas' impressive victory.
With this win, the Filipinas qualified for the final group stage of Olympic qualifying for the first time in their history. They will now join the five seeded teams in the second round, along with six other teams that have qualified. The 12 teams will be drawn into three groups of four, with the top teams in each group advancing to the third round, along with the best second-placed team.
Coach Stajcic expressed his delight with his team's performance, acknowledging their improvement over the past months. However, he also emphasized the need to work on their finishing to compete with the big nations in Asia.
"We know we're coming up against big nations now in the next round, Australia, Japan, China, and the two Koreas, plus Thailand and Vietnam," said Stajcic. "It's going to be very difficult for us, and we need to be ready."
The Filipinas' success in the AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament comes as they are also preparing for the FIFA Women's World Cup in July, demonstrating their ambition and potential on the international stage. With their impressive form and growing confidence, the Filipinas are poised to make a mark in women's football in Asia and beyond.
The Filipinas, led by coach Alen Stajcic, displayed exceptional form throughout the group stage, sweeping Group E without conceding a single goal. They also secured convincing wins against Pakistan (4-0) and Tajikistan (8-0) in their first two matches, showcasing their dominance in the competition.
In the crucial match against Hong Kong, Sarina Bolden was the star of the show, scoring two goals with clinical finishes. Meryll Serrano and Quinley Quezada also found the back of the net, contributing to the Filipinas' impressive victory.
With this win, the Filipinas qualified for the final group stage of Olympic qualifying for the first time in their history. They will now join the five seeded teams in the second round, along with six other teams that have qualified. The 12 teams will be drawn into three groups of four, with the top teams in each group advancing to the third round, along with the best second-placed team.
Coach Stajcic expressed his delight with his team's performance, acknowledging their improvement over the past months. However, he also emphasized the need to work on their finishing to compete with the big nations in Asia.
"We know we're coming up against big nations now in the next round, Australia, Japan, China, and the two Koreas, plus Thailand and Vietnam," said Stajcic. "It's going to be very difficult for us, and we need to be ready."
The Filipinas' success in the AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament comes as they are also preparing for the FIFA Women's World Cup in July, demonstrating their ambition and potential on the international stage. With their impressive form and growing confidence, the Filipinas are poised to make a mark in women's football in Asia and beyond.
Apr 12, 2023
