AFF TITLE NO OVERNIGHT THING
FROM the Miracle of Hanoi to “Herstory” in Manila. Vietnam literally saw red. The Vietnamese were the champions in the 2010 Suzuki Cup when they lost to the Philippine men’s national team, 1-0, in the next edition. The first victory sparked a massive resurgence in football in the Philippines.
In the distaff version this 2022, Vietnam, also the defending champion, was ousted, 4-nil, by the Filipinas—the national women’s team—in the semifinals.
The Filipinas then crushed multiple champion Thailand, 3-0, in the final for the nation’s first ever international football crown.
The Filipinas have been on a roll since the 2022 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Cup in India that saw them qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia next year.
The buildup began in 2018. After missing four editions of the AFC Women’s Championship, the Philippines returned in the 2018 edition and finished third in Group A with a 1-2 record that gave them a slot for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup playoff (the Filipinas were knocked out by Korea, 5-nil).
That tournament saw the introduction of four players who would be in that AFF Women’s Championship title game against Thailand—defender Hali Long, midfielders Tahnai Annis and Quinley Quezada, and forward Sarina Bolden.
The other players from the 2022 AFF championship squad were Jessica Miclat, Ryley Bugay and veteran
keeper Inna Palacios. Eva Madarang also joined the team in the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualification where she scored four goals in five matches.
Then in the AFF Championships, three other key additions were called up—defender Sofia Harrison as well as midfielders Camille Rodriguez and Anicka Castañeda. The Filipinas finished with a 1-1-2 record for third place in Group B and sixth overall.
The Filipinas finished with a one win, one draw and two losses for third in Group A.
A little over a year later, in the 2019 AFF Women’s Championship with veteran keeper Inna Palacios between the sticks, the Filipinas took that huge step forward when they qualified into the knockout stage with a 3-0-1 record as they finished second behind Thailand in Group A.
In the semifinals, the Philippines lost, 2-1 to Vietnam. Disheartened, the Filipinas crumbled in the bronze medal match to Myanmar, 3-0.
The team gained more experience and confidence when they advanced to the semifinals of the 2021 Southeast Asian Games where they finished with a bronze medal.
Then came the quantum leap this 2022 with the addition of keeper Olivia Mcdaniel, defender Dominique Randle and midfielders Sara Eggesvik, Katrina Guillou, and Carleigh Frilles, and midfielder and defender Jessika Cowart.
Granted that Thailand fielded a young team, it isn’t like they were any less talented. They just ran into a better, disciplined and well-coached Philippine team.