Philippine Women’s Football Team Stays Alive in AFC Tournament with 1-0 Victory over Iran
In a thrilling match on Wednesday, the Philippine women’s national football team secured a pivotal 1-0 victory against Iran in the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The game took place at the Perth Rectangular Stadium, HBF Park.
Ranked 44th in the world, the Filipinas displayed their prowess and determination and gained six points, securing a -4 goal difference to finish second in Group A. This advancement keeps them in contention for a spot in the third round of the tournament.
However, the Philippines must rely on certain scenarios in other groups to advance further. In order to secure the coveted spot as the best second placer, the Filipinas require South Korea and India to at least draw against China and Uzbekistan, respectively. If either team wins, the Philippines will automatically be eliminated from the competition.
Co-captain Tahnai Annis played a crucial role in granting the Filipinas an opportunity to progress. In the 19th minute, Annis seized an opening to score a breakthrough goal, capitalizing on a rebound from Iran’s goalkeeper Zahra Khajavi’s save, following a Sofia Harrison attempt.
Throughout the game, the Philippines maintained their lead against Iran, but struggled to further penetrate Khajavi’s exceptional performance between the posts. Despite relentless efforts from Annis, Sarina Bolden, and Katrina Guillou, they were unable to secure another goal.
Despite their offensive efforts, the Iranians defended tenaciously in the second half, preventing the Filipinas from scoring any further goals. The Philippine team had significantly more possession and made more passes, but Iran’s resilience nullified any further opportunities.
Currently, games between Group B and Group C teams are still ongoing, and decisions regarding the final round of the tournament are yet to be made.
