Photo from The AFC
The Philippine Under-17 Women’s National Team secured their first win with a 3-1 victory over Bangladesh on Friday at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center in Hanoi for the 2024 AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup qualification tournament.
Under the guidance of Coach Sinisa Cohadzic, the Philippine team had a turbulent start to the match. Isabella Preston set the tone with an early goal just three minutes into the contest, but the joy was short-lived as Bangladesh’s Mst Sagorika quickly equalized just a minute later.
Nina Mathelus continued to shine in the competition, finding the back of the net in the 32nd minute, regaining the lead for the Philippines. This goal marked her third in just two matches. The victory was then firmly secured by Jelena Soon, who delivered a goal in the 90+5th minute.
Following this victory, the Philippines currently holds the third position in Group B with 3 points and a goal difference of minus-2. Meanwhile, Bangladesh finds themselves at the bottom of the group, having earned no points after enduring consecutive defeats.
The Philippines will conclude their Group B matches this Sunday as they take on Vietnam at 8:00 PM PST.
Ven is a passionate advocate for women’s football in the Philippines, actively promoting its growth and development. Through her podcast, Futbol Brew, she engages in insightful one-on-one conversations with players and offers match previews and fan discussions, highlighting the journey of the Philippine Women’s National Team to their first-ever World Cup. Since 2013, her involvement in Pinay Futbol has revolved around spreading the love for the sport through social media and other events. Additionally, she’s an active supporter of the Women’s League and proudly serves as one of the incorporators of the Philippine Women’s Football Association
