PH blanks Malaysia in AFF women’s tilt

Joana Houplin struck twice as the Philippines blanked Malaysia, 3-0, on Saturday at the start of the AFF Women’s Championship in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The United States-based Houplin, the top scorer in the 2013 edition of the tournament with eight goals, scored in the 72nd and 74th minutes.

Jesse Shugg opened the scoring with her 24th-minute strike, after she was released by Houplin from midfield.

Shugg turned provider in the next two goals. Her brilliantly weighed pass from midfield picked apart the Malaysia backline and Houplin was on hand for the finish to the bottom corner.

Showing her class, Shugg surged past her defender on the left before crossing for Houplin to fire home for the third goal.

The Filipinos  can clinch a place in the semifinals with a win over Burma (Myanmar) today.

Vietnam leaned on a late goal to pip Burma, 3-2, in the other Group B match last Saturday.

Only the top two teams from the group will advance to the knockout round of the tournament, which also lured the Under-20 team of Australia, Thailand, Indonesia and Laos. Cedelf P. Tupas