Decades of obscurity have come to an end as the Philippine Women’s National Football Team has earned the right to be called the queens of Southeast Asian football.
In front of 8,257 fans in attendance, the Filipinas prevailed 3-0 over the Thailand War Elephants to win the 2022 AFF Women’s Championship, Sunday evening, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.
This victory marks the first time the Philippines has won any competition under the AFF banner.
The Filipinas gained a dream start in the contest thanks to Jessika Cowart. The 5-foot-8 defenser headed the ball past Thailand goalkeeper Chotmanee Thongmongkol off a Tahnai Annis corner in the 8th minute of the match.
Coach Alen Stajcic’s wards then managed to double their cushion in the 20th minute of the match. Katrina Guillou finished from close range to send Rizal Memorial rocking.
Come the second half, the War Elephants started aggressively but the Filipinas kept them at bay.
Frustration grew in the Thai camp as Ploychompoo Somnuek and Kanyanat Chetthabutr received yellow cards for fouls away from the ball.
Somnuek pushed Eva Madarang while the latter was being substituted for Malea Cesar. Meanwhile, Chetthabutr was cautioned for a confrontation against Hali Long.
Sarina Bolden capped off the evening with her eighth goal of the tournament with a header in the 89th minute.
Ultimately, it was the Filipinas’ night to enjoy as the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup-bound squad pulled through to achieve another milestone.
Philippines XI: McDaniel (GK), Sawicki, Long, Annis ©, Bolden, Harrison, Madarang, Quezada, Guillou, Eggesvik, Cowart.
Thailand XI: Thomongkol (GK), Saenkhun, Jerratanapavibul, Philawan, Somnuek, Panyosuk ©, Rodthong, Pram-Nak, Pengngam, Chetthabutr, Aupachia.
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Catch the entire 2022 AFF Women’s Championship live on SMART Sports and Puso Pilipinas from July 4-18.
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