The Philippine Under-17 Women’s National Football Team impressed on the opener of the 2027 AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers (WACQ) Group H, blanking host Uzbekistan, 4-0, at the Do’stlik Stadium in Tashkent on Monday.
University of Florida Gators rookie Noelle Granger, who is set to play in the US NCAA Division 1, was a revelation to the Filipinas U17, scoring a hat-trick in her national team debut.
After a back-and-forth and goalless first half, the young Filipinas got their game going in a blistering pace after the break, with Granger breaking the deadlock with a header caromed off the ground, with Ari Enderes feeding from the right in the 51st minute.
That goal sparked an 18-minute rampage by the U17 Filipinas as Granger followed up in the 63rd minute with a left-booted strike off the second touch, coming from Sachiko Davis’ right cross.
Feeling the momentum, Granger was unstoppable off the break, firing another left-footer off Lily Finney’s sprint from the left two minutes later.
Goalkeeper Abigail Garcia had her moment between the sticks, saving an uncontested strike in front of goal by Jamila Radjabbayeva at the start of the 68th minute, leading to Savannah Chheng’s finisher from Granger’s assist off a methodical buildup play with Enderes in the final third.
The Philippines will close the qualifiers versus Bangladesh on Saturday, October 11, at 7 PM (Philippine time).
(Photo from the-afc.com)
