Filipinas.–PFF PHOTO
HANGZHOU, China – A stinging 5-1 defeat in the hands of South Korea last Monday is not the end of the road for the Philippine women’s football team in the 19th Asian Games here.
With an even 1-1 record following a 3-1 victory over Hong Kong and the huge loss to the 2018 Asian Games bronze medalists, the Filipinas still remain in contention.
“May chance pa naman. May Myanmar game pa tayo (There’s still a chance. We still have another game coming up against Myanmar),” said Philippine Football Federation (PFF) President Mariano Araneta on Tuesday.
However, it’s not all in the hands of the Filipinas if they are to advance even if they beat world No. 51 Myanmar on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Wenzhou Sports Center Stadium.
There are five groups of three teams each, and only the top team in each group will advance outright. The three other slots to the quarterfinals will go to the top three among the remaining teams.
Filipinas at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.–PFF PHOTO
Mariano said it remains a must-win game against Myanmar. Then the Philippines, ranked No. 44, will have to wait for the final results of the other groups.
“Ang importante talunin natin ang Myanmar (What’s important is we beat Myanmar). Then we hope for the best that we land in the top three among the remaining teams,” he added.
“If we beat Myanmar we have six points. Then we have a chance depending on the goal difference of the other teams,” Mariano said.
Against the South Koreans, the Filipinas scored first courtesy of Sarina Bolden in the eighth minute. But that proved to be the last as the South Koreans took control of the match the rest of the way.
The South Koreans equalized in the 12th minute then piled up the goals in the 44th, 52nd, 56th and 70th minutes en route to the runaway victory.
“Hindi masyado nag-click ‘yung defenders natin pero ganyan talaga ang laro (Our defenders didn’t click as much as much as we would have wanted them to). What’s important is that we still have a chance,” Mariano said.