Filipinas crush Tajikistan, inch closer to second round of Olympic qualifiers
The Philippine women’s national football team breezed past Tajikistan with an 8-0 rout in their second game of the 2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, at the Hisor Central Stadium Saturday, April 8.
*The Filipinas inch closer to the second round of the Olympic qualifiers. (Philippine Football Federation)*
The Filipinas wasted no time and went 6-0 clear of the hosts in the first half with six different players finding the back of the net before the returning Chandler McDaniel fired back-to-back goals to seal the lopsided affair. With the win, the Philippines improved 2-0 in Group E of the first round of the Olympic qualifiers after tallying six points to tie with Hong Kong, though ahead through a way superior goal differential of 12 and five, respectively. The nationals were aggressive from the onset, barely giving Tajikistan goalkeeper Saidova Saiyora time to recollect herself once Sofia Harrison opened the floodgates come the 26th minute of the first half from the right side. It was a 2-0 lead two minutes later with captain Tahnai Annis hitting it into an empty net, before Carleigh Frilles fired the third all in a matter of five minutes. Quinley Quezada had her moment in the 35th minute after a set-up by Annis for a header which was followed by Meryll Serrano in quick succession three minutes later. The Filipinas made it a dominant 6-0 before the break after Maya Alacantara’s goal on a rebound. Four substitutes were brought in at the break including McDaniel, who hasn’t seen action due to an injury she sustained in January of 2022. But McDaniel was all over Tajikistan keeper Gulova Minisa and finally tallied a goal to her name from a Frilles pass at the 60th-minute mark. The eight and final goal came in the 89th minute on a long ball from Jaclyn Sawicki which McDaniel fittingly chipped past Tajikistan’s keeper Minisa to finish the rout. The Philippines seeks to sweep its first round campaign when it takes on the 79th-ranked Hong Kong on Tuesday, April 11, with the winner advancing to the second round of the Olympic qualifiers.
*The Filipinas inch closer to the second round of the Olympic qualifiers. (Philippine Football Federation)*
The Filipinas wasted no time and went 6-0 clear of the hosts in the first half with six different players finding the back of the net before the returning Chandler McDaniel fired back-to-back goals to seal the lopsided affair. With the win, the Philippines improved 2-0 in Group E of the first round of the Olympic qualifiers after tallying six points to tie with Hong Kong, though ahead through a way superior goal differential of 12 and five, respectively. The nationals were aggressive from the onset, barely giving Tajikistan goalkeeper Saidova Saiyora time to recollect herself once Sofia Harrison opened the floodgates come the 26th minute of the first half from the right side. It was a 2-0 lead two minutes later with captain Tahnai Annis hitting it into an empty net, before Carleigh Frilles fired the third all in a matter of five minutes. Quinley Quezada had her moment in the 35th minute after a set-up by Annis for a header which was followed by Meryll Serrano in quick succession three minutes later. The Filipinas made it a dominant 6-0 before the break after Maya Alacantara’s goal on a rebound. Four substitutes were brought in at the break including McDaniel, who hasn’t seen action due to an injury she sustained in January of 2022. But McDaniel was all over Tajikistan keeper Gulova Minisa and finally tallied a goal to her name from a Frilles pass at the 60th-minute mark. The eight and final goal came in the 89th minute on a long ball from Jaclyn Sawicki which McDaniel fittingly chipped past Tajikistan’s keeper Minisa to finish the rout. The Philippines seeks to sweep its first round campaign when it takes on the 79th-ranked Hong Kong on Tuesday, April 11, with the winner advancing to the second round of the Olympic qualifiers.