Filipinas turn back Iran, finish second in group

Sarina Bolden (center) again anchors the Filipinas’ offense. —PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S FOOTBALL TEAM

The Filipinas will now play the waiting game after closing out their rollercoaster second round campaign in the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament on a winning note.

Tahnai Annis’ goal in the 19th minute allowed the Filipinas to defeat Iran, 1-0, at Perth’s Rectangular Stadium in Australia on Wednesday as Team Philippines ended its Group A campaign in second place to keep its slim hopes of making the final phase of the qualifier for next year’s Paris Olympics.

A few things must happen by the time all matches on Wednesday are concluded in other parts of the world for coach Mark Torcaso’s side to keep its Olympic dreams alive.

One is for South Korea and China to settle for a scoreless draw in their Group B tussle in Xiamen and for India to deny host Uzbekistan a chance to progress either with a tie or an upset win in Group C.

The results of those games were being determined at presstime.

Regardless, the Filipinas got what they wanted by ending the second round with six points on two victories and one defeat.

The other win came against Chinese Taipei, 4-1, in the opener last Thursday before the Philippines got hammered by host Australia, 8-0.