The Philippine Under-17 Women’s National Team clinched a breakthrough win in the second round of the 2024 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup qualification tournament, a 3-1 victory over Bangladesh Friday at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center in Hanoi.
Coach Sinisha Cohadzic’s team had a mixed start to the contest. Isabella Preston gave the Filipinas the lead just three minutes into the contest, only for her and her teammates to concede an equalizer a minute later from Bangladesh’s Mst Sagorika.
Nina Mathelus then continued her fine scoring run in this competition. She put the ball at the back of the net in the 32nd minute to give the Philippines the lead once again. It was her third goal in two matches.
Jelena Soon sealed the victory for the Filipinas with a goal in the 90+5 minute.
The outcome meant that the Philippines sat in third place in Group B with 3 points and a goal difference of minus-2. Bangladesh is bottom with zero points behind back-to-back defeats.
Vietnam and Australia, the two nations leading the group, are currently facing each other as of this writing.
Both teams will finish their Group B assignments this Sunday. Bangladesh will face Australia at 5:00 p.m. Manila time while the Philippines shall take on Vietnam after at 8:00 p.m. Manila time.
