The Philippine national women’s futsal team looks for its second win as it faces Turkmenistan on Wednesday in the AFC Futsal Women’s Asian Cup at the Yunusobod Sports Complex in Tashkent.
Kick-off is at 6 p.m. (Manila time) as the Nationals hope to stay within the top two spots in Group C.
The Philippines, which has a 1-1-0 win-draw-loss record, is coming off a 3-3 draw against the Uzbeks, who are ranked No. 18 in the world.
Meanwhile, Turkmenistan lost its opening game against Australia last Saturday after a 1-6 trashing.
Only the top two teams per group and the best third-place team from the four groups in the qualifiers will get a slot in the Women’s Asian Cup in China from 7 to 18 May.
The Asian Cup serves as a qualifier for the first FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup in the Philippines from 21 November to 7 December.
On paper, the Philippines should have no problem cruising past the Turkmenistanis after its impressive scoring in the past two games.
Filipinas striker Katrina Guillou currently has three goals in the competition after two games and is tied as the top goalscorer in the qualifiers with Nikkita Fazzari and Trudy Camilleri of Australia and Amira Sowar and Alanood Al Khalifa of Bahrain.
Bella Flanigan is also a scoring option for the Philippines after converting two goals in two games.
This competition is part of the buildup of the Nationals for the World Cup as they brace themselves to face the top futsal countries at home soil.