The newly formed Young Filipinas made a rousing debut in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2026 Qualifiers, opening their Group A campaign with a commanding 5–0 victory over Syria on Monday at the Republican Central Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Led by Ariana Enderes, the Philippines controlled the match from start to finish, showcasing pace, precision, and teamwork in their first official outing.
Enderes, a standout from the Virginia Development Academy, struck early in the fourth minute, converting a well-timed pass from Chiara Mizzo into the bottom left corner. The Ashburn, Virginia native doubled the lead just before halftime with a curling strike to make it 2–0.
The Young Filipinas continued their relentless attack in the second half. Kaida Mizzo added the third goal in the 50th minute, lofting a shot over Syrian goalkeeper Rahaf Nasra from outside the box. Two minutes later, Louraine Evangelista made it 4–0 with a similar long-range effort.
The Philippines capped their dominant performance in the 72nd minute, when Sofhia Muros volleyed home a cross from Mizzo to seal the 5–0 scoreline.
The impressive win marked a promising start for Scottish coach Pradhyum Reddy, who officially took charge of the team just last week. Reddy is regarded as one of Indian football’s most experienced and forward-thinking tacticians, blending European tactical knowledge with his extensive experience in both Indian and American football.
