CONSIDERED a longshot at the start of the tournament, the Filipina5 continued to flourish under newly-hired mentor Spanish Rafa Merino last Wednesday night, humbling Turkmenistan 2-0 to surge into the Group C lead of the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
After a scoreless draw at the break where neither side gave no quarter, Merino’s charges clinically dismantled the Turkmen behind another sterling all-around performance that even their fiercest critics back home would admire, albeit grudgingly.
Quick to pounce on every lapse of their foes, the Filipinas struck courtesy of the irrepressible Katrina Guillou, who booted in the icebreaker in the 23rd with a 10-yard volley that hit the left lower portion of the net on a feed by Cathrine Graversen.
Underscoring the team’s scoring depth, Dionesia Tolentin scored the second marker eight minutes later in an open net from 12 yards at the edge of the center arc as Turkmenistan goalie Aysha Armanberdiyerva strayed away to the left of the goal.
For the first time in three matches, PH goalie Samantha Hughes kept a clean sheet as she repeatedly foiled the Turkmen’s tries, including a long fiery blast from striker Maya Musaskaya early in the second half.
Acting as offensive decoys, Isabella Flanigan and Judy Connolly played key roles for the Filipinas, who found themselves the unlikely leaders in the group with seven points, one point ahead of idle Australia with six points.
Host Uzbekistan, held to a 3-all tie by the Philippines in its debut match, crushed Kuwait 5-0 in the other group match to keep its hopes of qualifying for the AFC Women’s Asian Futsal Cup in China in May, rising to third with four points.
Turkmenistan virtually bowed out of the running with its second loss while Kuwait bowed out of contention after absorbing its third defeat in a row.
After playing every other day, the Filipinas get a well-deserved three-day breather before facing Australia on Sunday while the Aussies battle the Uzbeks in a pivotal group clash today.
A draw or win may be good enough for the Philippines to advance to the AFC Women’s Asian Futsal Cup from May 8 to 17 in China.
Fans can expect the Filipinas to give it their all in proving to the naysayers back home that they can play shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in the continent.
