The Philippines recorded their first-ever win against Thailand, and it came at the best time as they recorded a shock 1-0 win to open their campaign at the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup Friday evening at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, India.
Alen Stajcic’s Filipinas needed more than just luck to stun the two-time Women’s World Cup participant at the thirteenth time of asking, as the road to the Land Down Under in 2023 begins on a promising note in Group B.
The McDaniel siblings of goalkeeper Olivia and forward Chandler shone the brightest for the former Australia manager as it shut down the vaunted Chaba Kaew, thanks to their defensive composure that was unprecedented from the previous squads.Â
A testy first half saw the Filipinas take initiative, in which they thought they got ahead just thirteen minutes in, but the strike by debutante Katrina Guillou was ruled out by the lineswoman’s flag.
But that lit the fire on the Filipinas at the restart, in which they tested Thai keeper Waraporn Boonsing multiple times but with no success.
However, that would change in the 81st minute, as Chandler fired a hopeful strike that Waraporn mishandled, with the ball creeped past the line to go ahead for good.
Afterwards, it was a solid defensive display by Olivia McDaniel and her backline led by Hali Long the rest of the way as the Filipinas scored a historic first win against their ASEAN rivals.
It was a result that Stajcic needed ahead of a tasty tie on Monday against the Matildas, which he previously managed from 2014 to 2019.
Thailand: Boonsing (GK), Saenkhun, Philawan, Intamee (C) (Utchai 67′), Panyosuk (Khueanpet 78′), Phetwiset (Makris 78′), Pram-nak, Pengngam (Chettabutr 67′), Waenngoen, Rodthong, Nild (Dangda 85′)
Philippines: Olivia McDaniel (GK), Randle, Long, Annis (C) (Frilles 70′), Chandler McDaniel (Anicka Castañeda 88), Miclat (Sara Castañeda 70), Bugay, Harrison, Madarang (Cesar 46′), Quezada, Guillou (Flanigan 90+4′)