Matildas send Filipinas back to Stone Age

Australia's Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord both scored hat tricks as they trashed the Philippine national women's football team, 8-0, in the 2024 Asian Football Confederation Olympic Qualifying Tournament at the Perth Stadium on Sunday in Australia.

Kerr, who plays for Chelsea FC in the Women's Super League in England, scored in the 19th, 45th and 46th minutes while Foord, a forward for Arsenal, also netted a hat trick of her own after converting her chances in the 30th, 33rd and 56th minutes.

Mary Fowler started the scoring spree for the Matildas in the 15th minute while Clare Wheeler capped the goal fest in the 85th minute.

This is the Filipinas' first loss in the Olympic qualifiers and their biggest defeat of the year, eclipsing the 1-8 beatdown they received against Japan last 30 September in the quarterfinal of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

With this loss, the Philippines is in danger of missing out on a spot for the third and final round of the qualifiers due to its -5 goal difference.

Only the top teams of each group and the best second-placed team will be able to move forward to the next stage on February 2024 where four teams will vie for two slots for the 2024 Paris Summer Games.

The Philippines has one more match left and it will be against Iran, which is playing against Chinese Taipei at press time, on 1 November at the Perth Rectangular Stadium.

The Filipinas will have to bury the Iranians by a large margin to try and be the best second-placed team in the second round.