Filipinas seal second round spot in Olympic qualifiers with win over Hong Kong
PFF PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines progressed to the second round of the Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament following a 4-0 win over Hong Kong on Tuesday at Hisor Central Stadium in Tajikistan.
Sarina Bolden produced a brace while Meryll Serrano and Quinley Quezada each scored once as the Filipinas topped Group E by winning all three matches, including against Pakistan and host Tajikistan, by convincing margins.
Coach Alen Stajcic and his World Cup-bound side now move into the next phase of the qualification for next year’s Paris Games where competition is going to be tougher.
The second round is set in October with the Philippines, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Uzbekistan, India, Iran and North Korea to be split into three groups to contest the four spots in the final round.
It didn’t take long for the Filipinas to take control of the match as Bolden fired the opener five minutes after the opening whistle before the talismanic striker doubled the lead in the 41st for her 20th international goal.
Serrano made it 3-0 before halftime when she found the back of the net through a free kick in the 44th.
Quezada produced the game’s final goal with a long attempt in the 53rd to make it 22 goals in a Filipinas shirt.
Goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel was hardly threatened in her only appearance of the first round after Kiara Fontanilla stood between the sticks in the past two games.
