WOMEN’S World Cup veterans Jackie Sawicki and Meryll Serrano sparked the Filipinas to a 3-0 rout of Saudia Arabia to kick off their campaign in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Group G qualifying tournament in style at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia yesterday.
In the absence of celebrated strikers Sarina Bolden and Katrina Guillou, the Nationals showcased their scoring depth as Sawicki drew first blood in the 16th minute while Serrano added the second 10 minutes, slotting in a 10-yarder in a crowded goal area.
Alessa Pino got into the act with nine minutes to go in regulation with a looping 15-yard volley – her first PH goal – from the right wing that hit the top left of the net to wrap things up as the charges of Australian coach Marc Torcaso booked their first win, worth three points, in the group.
Also getting sufficient exposure was homegrown forward Dionesa Tolentin, who was a constant pest to the Saudi defense every time she got the ball.
Keeping a clean sheet was top goalkeeper Chandler McDaniel, who, however, got kneed by midfielder Seba Tawfik on a breakaway inside the goal area as she tried to save the ball three minutes into injury time in the second half.
The Filipinas eye their second win against the Cambodian hosts on Wednesday to boost their bid in qualifying for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, which will serve as the continental qualifying tournament for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil in 2027.
Only the group topnotcher will advance to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup set March 1 to 31, 2027 in the Australian cities of Perth, Gold Coast and Sydney.
The Nationals practically dominated all departments, controlling the ball 66 percent of the time and had 12 shots on target to none for the opposition.
