Quinley Quezada and Katrina Guillou’s late goals propelled the Philippine Women’s National Football Team to a fine start in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, winning 3-1 against Hong Kong in the country’s debut in the Asiad.
With the match delicately tied at 1-1, Quezada finished from close range in the 88th minute amidst a scramble in the Hong Kong box.
Guillou then executed a fine finish in the 90+1 minute to clinch all three points for the Filipinas in their first match in Group E.
The two late goals were the Filipinas’ reward for their perseverance as they had multiple chances to score throughout the contest.
Coach Mark Torcaso’s side started on the right foot when Sarina Bolden converted a penalty nine minutes into the match.
Hong Kong’s Wai Ki Cheung then equalized in the 39th minute with a spectacular long-eange effort but her goal became nothing more than a consolation by the end of tje match.
“I was pretty proud and happy with the result,” said Torcaso. “We’ve had three and 1/2 sessions with this group. It’s gonna take us a bit of time until they can understand how we wanna play and what we wanna do but for them to execute that in their first game with us — it was excellent.”
“We were happy. It was three points. It’s a tournament. You have to win games and we won the game.”
Both teams will return to action on Monday. Hong Kong will take on Myanmar at 4:00 PM while the Philippines shall face South Korea at 7:30 PM.
Hong Kong XI: Ma Chak Shun, Tsang Pak Tung, Chan Wing Sze (C), Wu Choi Yiu, Chung Pui Ki, Lau Yun Yi, Tsang Lai Mae Hallasan, Ho Mui Mei, Cheung Wai Ki, Leung Wai Nga, Chan Yee Hing
Philippines XI: O McDaniel (GK), Cowart, Long, Bolden, Eggesvik, Bonta, C McDaniel, Harrison, Madarang, Quezada, Guillou
