The Philippine Women’s National Team got its 19th Asian Games campaign off to a winning start as the Filipinas used two late goals to slip past Hong Kong, 3-2, at the Wenzhou Sports Center in China.
FIFA Women’s World Cup scorer Sarina Bolden and veteran Quinley Quezada extended their goalscoring records, before Katrina Guillou put the outcome beyond doubt for the Filipinas, who face Korea Republic on Monday.
It was a fine start to the tenure of Filipinas coach Mark Torcaso, who was coaching his first international match.
The Filipinas got off to a dream start as Bolden struck from the penalty spot in the ninth minute after a handball infraction from Hong Kong. Cheung Wai-ki equalized with a spectacular long range effort six minutes before halftime.
The Filipinas came out with renewed vigor in the second half with Bolden denied by the post after a fine ball over the top from Reina Bonta. Chandler McDaniel also tested Leung Wai-nga with a flick on the follow up.
Torcaso introduced Jackie Sawicki and Meryl Serrano near the hour mark for Bonta and McDaniel respectively.
Just when it looked like the match was headed into a stalemate, the Filipinas’ persistence paid off in the 89th minute as Quezada pounced on a scramble inside the box after Hong Kong failed to clear the ball.
Serrano provided a teasing ball for Guillou to turn and finish in stoppage time as the Filipinas secured maximum points in their Asiad debut.
“It’s gonna take us a bit of time until they get to understand how we want to play and what we want to do, but for them to execute that in the first game with us as staff, it was excellent and we’re happy,” Torcaso said.
“I probably saw that huge amount of character that we saw at the [FIFA Women’s] World Cup. I learned that they can stick it out right to the end of the game regardless of the situation.”