Filipinas face reigning champion Vietnam in AFF semis

VIetnam football team in the AFF Women’s Championship 2022. –PFF PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Philippines will take on defending champion Vietnam in the semifinals of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Championship after the latter secured top spot in Group B on Wednesday.

Vietnam, which won the previous edition in 2019, rolled to a 4-0 win over Myanmar at the close of the group stage campaign at Rizal Memorial Stadium to set up a date with the Filipinas.

Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung accounted for two of Vietnam’s three goals in the first half while Huynh Nhu and Pham Hai Yen also found the mark.

Both teams face off on Friday with a scheduled 8 p.m. kickoff, their first meeting since the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last May.

Coach Alen Stajcic’s side lost 2-1 to Vietnam in Group A despite taking the lead in the 15th minute on Tahnai Annis’ opener.

Group A winner Thailand takes on Group B runner-up Myanmar in the other semis pairing.