Filipinas take on lowly Saudi arabia in AFC Qualifiers

The road to Australia starts for the Philippine national women’s football team as it goes up against Saudi Arabia in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh on Sunday.

Kick-off will be at 5 p.m. (Manila time) as the Filipinas look to start their campaign with a big bang.

The Filipinas are in Group G with the Saudi Arabians, hosts Cambodia, and Hong Kong as they vie for the lone spot for next year’s Asian Cup.

Top scorers Sarina Bolden and Katrina Guillou won’t be competing in the qualifiers due to injuries.

Despite this, Filipinas head coach Mark Torcaso said they are all in high spirits as they have all adjusted to training in Cambodia after a few days.

“The girls have come in over the last couple of days, so between the 23rd and 24th, and the sessions have been very good, very good intensity. The girls are very, very focused on the plan ahead and that’s to come here and get three points in each of the games,” Torcaso said.

“We’ve had some challenges with the rain, but it just stopped at the perfect time when we’re about to start. But yeah, it’s been really good.”

Even without Bolden and Guillou on the team, the Philippines has a huge advantage over the Saudi Arabians.

For one, the Filipinas are No. 41 in the International Football Federation rankings compared to Saudi Arabia, which is at No. 165.

With World Cup veterans like team captain Hali Long, Jaclyn Sawicki, Olivia McDaniel, Angela Beard, Jessika Cowart, and Chandler McDaniel, the Filipinas have the tools to get the job done.