GAME TODAY
(HOHHOT Sports Center, China)
11 a.m. – Philippines vs. Vietnam
FEATURING a virtually new squad than the last time they met in November, the Filipina5 aim to flip the script in a do-or-die match against Vietnam in their pivotal Group B clash today in the AFC Women’s Asian Futsal Cup at the Hohhot Sports Center in Hohhot, China.
Fresh from a gallant 0-1 loss to defending champion Iran last Tuesday, the charges of Spanish Rafa Rodriguez are expected to go all out against the Vietnamese, the reigning Asean football champions, at 11 a.m. or be sent packing home early.
Vietnam joined Iran as opening day winners two days ago with a close 5-3 victory over Hong Kong.
The Nationals are not the same side that absorbed a 1-6 licking from Vietnam on Nov. 19, 2024 in the single-round preliminaries of the Asean Football Federation Women’s Futsal Championship hosted by the country at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. Vietnam took the title with a 2-1 win over Thailand in the championship match.
Vietnam mentor Nguyen Dinh Hoang will be wary of the Filipina5, who took the Iranians to the brink of disaster before the back-to-back titlists finally escaped with an enterprising goal by MaralTorkaman in the dying minutes of the thrilling match.
“We had them (the Iranians!)” exclaimed national team manager Vince Santos of the close call from the provincial capital of Inner Mongolia yesterday.
“What was achieved yesterday was quite significant despite not resulting in any points our Filipina5 deserved,” Santos said.
“To spend 40 minutes defending against (a team like) Iran is very difficult, but I am happy with the team, not with the result, but because of the way the team fought throughout the game,” Rodriguez stressed of the team’s fighting stand in a story posted on the AFC website yesterday.
“We will continue to learn, to fight and improve. These games are very important for us because we have never played against teams like Iran.”
The Spanish tactician called for the same focus and fighting spirit in the win-or-go-home game against Vietnam.
“Vietnam is a very good team, their players move the ball very fast, but I think we are ready,” Rodriguez said. “We need to have the same mentality as we did against Iran, because we worked very hard, and keeping this kind of mentality is important for us to compete.”
Hoang said priority is for his players to play better at the start of each half, in contrast to their slow beginning against Hong Kong where they fell behind after the first minute, then conceded two quick goals after the halftime break.
“We were not quite ready and did not settle into the game fast enough,” he said. “The first match of a tournament is always difficult… after we conceded (at 3-3), I motivated the team and encouraged them to overcome the setback.”
Among those the Filipina5 will need to closely mark is Vietnam’s Le ThiThanhNgan, who scored a brace against Hong Kong.
Isabella Flanigan, only 19 and yet the PH team skipper, will need all her skills and craftiness in trying to elude the Vietnamese defenders expected to swarm all over her, using that to advantage in setting up her teammates in poking holes at their foes’ defenses.
