The Philippine women’s football team i the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers on Sunday. –CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The Philippine women’s football team opened its bid for another World Cup appearance with a 3-0 rout of Saudi Arabia in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers on Sunday in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Jaclyn Sawicki scored the opener 16 minutes into the contest before Meryll Serrano and Alexa Pino found the net in the second half as the Filipinas secured the full three points at National Sports Complex of Cambodia to start their Group G campaign.
READ: Filipinas World Cup path starts vs Saudi in Asian Cup Qualifiers
Coach Mark Torcaso’s side is seeking to top the group and secure qualification to next year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup where six slots are allotted for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Next up for the Filipinas are host Cambodia on Wednesday. Cambodia was taking on Hong Kong in Sunday’s other game in the group.
Sawicki put the Philippines on the board after Serrano dispossessed the Saudis at the back received the pass that allowed her to fire a shot that put the Filipinas in front.
Serrano doubled the lead in the 55th after sending Chandler McDaniel’s pass, avoiding an offside to score after Saudi Arabia couldn’t make a proper clearance.
Pino made it three for the Filipinas in the 81st after another poor Saudi Arabia clearance enabled her to cut back from the right and delivered a left-footed attempt.
Saudi Arabia lost its first-ever game in a major tournament after forming its women’s football squad in 2021. It had played 32 friendlies since 2022 prior to the Asian Cup Qualifiers.
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