The newly revamped Philippine squad lived up to initial expectations as the Filipinas and the Australian side got off to a great start in their AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup China 2025 Qualifiers campaigns on Saturday evening at the Yunusobod Sport Complex in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The Filipinas, a newcomer in the sport and led by three FIFA World Cup football veterans, pulled off an impressive 4-1 beating of Kuwait in Group C to celebrate the coaching debut of Spanish mentor Rafa Merino Rodriguez.
“Not to put pressure or any more weight on the girls and the coaching staff, (but) we expect to win that group, we expect to qualify for the AFC Championship in China,” said Philippine Football Federation president John Gutierrez before the squad left for Tashkent.
Meanwhile, Australia pulled off a 6-1 win, blasting Turkmenistan, after getting past the initial efforts of Turkmenistani goalkeeper Malika Eminova to stop them from scoring.
Kuwait’s plan to stay defensive in the early stages of the contest did not hold the Philippines’ relentless pressure.
Goakeeper Aishah Alsabri managed to reject Sara Castaneda’s shot off a corner, but Katrina Guillou managed to strike the first marker.
In the 22nd minute, Isabella Flanigan caught Kuwait flatfooted when she sprinted down the left of Alsabri at the arc for a second goal.
The Filipinas tripled the score off a counter-attacking move from Sheen Nicole Borres, who recovered a loose ball and then sent a pass to Dionesa Tolentin, who then volleyed past Alsabri from just above the arc in the 26th minute.
Kuwait then scored its lone goal in the 35th minute, courtesy of Shrouq Mohammad, who took in a neat pass to score past Samanta Hughes.
The Philippines went on to claim their fourth goal through Guillou in the 38th minute.
Turkmenistan will be the Philippines next opponent on Wednesday while Australia will meet Kuwait on Monday.