Malditas seek another upset vs Chinese
Match today (King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman) 4:45 p.m. – Philippines vs China (9:45 p.m. Manila)
The Philippine Malditas take on fancied China with guarded optimism as they shoot for another big result against the Group A table-toppers in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup tonight at King Abdullah Stadium in Amman, Jordan.
Opening the Continental tournament with a massive 2-1 reversal of higher-ranked host Jordan last Friday, the Malditas put themselves in a good position to make it to the semifinals and gain outright qualification to next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in France.
Coach Rabah Benlarbi’s wards can meet their date with history with another win against the Chinese in the 4:45 p.m. (9:45 p.m. Manila time) encounter. In case they fall short, the Pinay booters will have one more crack against Thailand on April 12.
“I will definitiely try to take care of my players for the match against China and potentially use some of the squad who did not feature against Jordan,” said Benlarbi ahead of the duel with the Chinese, who flexed their muscles in a 4-0 drubbing of Asean hotshots Thailand on opening day.
“I believe qualification will be achieved in our final game against Thailand and not against China,” said the French mentor.
The Filipinas, who are in their maiden stint in Asia’s showpiece competition under the current qualification format, aim to one big stride to history by making it to the world stage.
“It’s really, really exciting,” said Fil-Am Sarina Bolden, who scored the game-winner against Jordan. “It’s just so exciting to be part of something so special and big. Not only am I playing for myself but I get to play for a country which is part of myself and it’s so much bigger than playing for a college team or a club team.”