Filipinas in the AFF Women’s Championship 2022. –PFF PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–The Philippines paid the price for another defensive miscue this time and suffered a 1-0 loss to Thailand on Tuesday to emerge as runner-up in Group A of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Championship at Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel and defenders Dom Randle and Sofia Harrison misjudged a high-bouncing ball that allowed Thailand’s Kanyanat Chettabuhr to head the ball for the only goal of the match.
Kanyanat’s goal, which stunned a record crowd of 2,923, proved to be the difference and the Filipinas were relegated to second and a semifinal date with either defending champion Vietnam or Myanmar on Friday at the historic pitch.
Vietnam and Myanmar meet the following day to determine the team that ends up winning Group B.
Attempts to repeat the same scenario in the 4-1 win over Indonesia when the hosts likewise gave up the opener on a mistake went futile as the Philippines will be up for a tough task for a chance to play in the final.
Jessika Cowart’s left-footed shot off a corner that was saved by Thai keeper Chotmanee Thongmongkol was the Filipinas’ best chance in the first half.
Katrina Guillou had an opportunity to score on a counter but she was in a tight-angled position while Sara Eggesvik’s shot went straight to the gloves of Chotmanee.