ALREADY a long shot to make the knockout stage, the Philippines hopes to close its group campaign on a positive note against Singapore Monday in the Asean Football Federation Women’s Championship in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Malditas bowed to Myanmar and Vietnam in their first two games, but are heavily favored to best the Singaporeans in the 6:30 p.m. clash at the Vietnamese capital’s Thong Nhat Stadium.
“Singapore has never won against us,” said Malditas coach Ernie Nierras, whose squad has a very slim chance of making it to the semifinals even if they win against the Singaporeans.
The Malditas will be looking to score as many goals as possible past the Singaporeans and hope that the Vietnam-Myanmar game doesn’t end in a draw. If this happens, goal difference will determine the group’s No. 2 team.
Unable to cope with Vietnam’s slick passing, the Malditas yielded a 2-4 decision Saturday night.
Myanmar dealt the Philippines its first defeat with a 3-0 win last Thursday. Cedelf P. Tupas
inquirer.net
Comment :
Myanmar and Vietnam got 6 points already and Philippines 0 points. How can Philippines get to a semifinal....
You are right of course. This was not Ernie's mistake. He has told his players that he will sit out some starters from the first two games and use his substitutes to try to recognize the months of effort that his players have put in. He wants them to be "capped" as an international player. Good for him.
ReplyDeleteThe next game after Singapore is scheduled to be against Olympic bronze medallist Canada in California. There will be players at that game who were unable to come to the AFF because their US universities would not release them. Many of the local players will not be able to attend so if they get a chance to play against Singapore I hope that they will always treasure the memory of their international debut.