Filipina5 bag Asian Futsal Cup berth

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CAPPING a remarkable campaign, the Filipina5 came through with a valiant stand before dropping a close 1-2 decision to powerhouse Australia last Sunday night at the Yusonobod Sports Complex in Tashkent, Uzbekistan but still booked a ticket to the AFC Women’s Asian Futsal Cup in China.

The upset-conscious wards of newly-hired Spanish coach Rafa Merino fought tooth-and-nail against the Aussies. The team was formed just late last year for the purpose of qualifying for the Women’s Asian Futsal Cup, a qualifying event for the 1st FIFA Women’s World Futsal Cup in Manila.  

Two rare defensive lapses by the PH side led to Australia’s two goals, with Daisy Arrowsmith booting in the icebreaker with a 16-yard blast outside from the top arc seven minutes into the match and the other from Jessica Au two minutes into the second half.

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Streaking from the left flank, forward Isabella Flanigan induced Aussie Halle Smit to score an own goal with barely a minute left that left the two exciting sides tied at 1-all at the break.

The women from Down Under scored their fourth straight triumph to top the group with 12 points, also securing a place in the main tournament from May 7 to 18 in China. 

Needing either a win or a draw to ensure their passage to the Women’s Asian Futsal Cup, the Filipinas absorbed their only loss in four matches and were stuck at seven points. They had to anxiously for a few more hours whether they made it or not.

Host Uzbekistan, which the Filipina5 held to a 3-all draw last week, secured second place on goal difference after topping Turkmenistan 6-2 in the other group match.

The Uzbeks and the Filipina5 wound up tied with similar seven points, but the former took runner-up honors and also a trip to China on goal difference – +7 to +4 – while the Philippines likewise secured a spot as the best third-placed team among the four qualifying groups.

This was an outstanding result for the PH side, which was formed barely a month before leaving for the Uzbek capital under controversial circumstances, and a vindication for Philippine Football Federation president John Gutierrez for making the move.

The Nationals wound up in pot 4 of the Women’s Asian Futsal Cup draw together with Australia and Bahrain, which will be held by the Asian Football Confederation on Feb. 7 in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region in China.

In pot 1 are host China, Thailand and Iran; pot 2 Japan, Vietnam and Uzbekistan; and pot 3 Indonesia, Chinese-Taipei and Hong Kong.

The top three teams – champion, runner-up and third placer – in the tournament will represent Asia in the FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup, but should the Philippines reach the semis, then all of the other semifinalists will seal a slot to the prestigious competition.

The PFF will host the inaugural FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup from Nov. 21 to Dec. 7 at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City and the Victorias Stadium in Victorias, Negros Occidental.

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