The Philippine women’s national football team made a strong impression in the first round of the AFC Olympic Qualifiers for Paris 2024 with a 4-0 rout of Pakistan on Wednesday at the Hisor Central Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
The Filipinas, currently ranked 49th in the FIFA Rankings, made their intention of topping the group and advancing into the second round known as early as the kickoff. They piled on the offensive pressure on the Pakistanis.
Hali Long, who started her 70th international cap, finally gave the Philippines a well-deserved go-ahead goal. She scored with a header in the 22nd minute, finishing Sarina Bolden’s delivery into the box.
Bolden then added her version of the downward header into the back of the net to double the lead three minutes later.
The Filipinas had to deal with the strong stand of Pakistan inside the box. The opposition tried to test their defensive line with several attempts at goal.
Eva Madarang wisely took a long shot from way outside the area and eventually added a third goal just before the half-hour mark – a screamer that went inside the net.
Forward Bella Pasion almost added a fourth before the halftime break, but her shot missed the target. The Filipinas then held onto a three-goal advantage heading into the second period.
Changes in personnel in the second half did not alter the intensity and relentlessness of the Philippines on the offensive side. The Pakistani defense offered not much resistance and even gave them the space to operate in the midfield.
Returning Chandler McDaniel, who came on for Bolden, got a chance to add to the lead at the one-hour point. However, her shot went wide, as did Carliegh Frilles’ own opportunity minutes after that shot.
After a huge defensive spell from Pakistan, McDaniel eventually got her welcome-back goal on the breakthrough. She added the Filipinas’ fourth in the 85th minute, which turned out to be the final dagger in the result.
The reigning AFF Women’s Cup champions took the top of the group with three points on one win. They will take on the hosts Tajikistan on Saturday at 10:00 PM (Philippine time) at the same Dushanbe stadium.
