ATTAINING a football milestone that seemed next to impossible, the Philippines tripped fancied Chinese-Taipei 4-3 in a thrilling penalty shootout to reach the AFC Asian Women’s Cup semifinals for the first time at the Shiv Chhatrapatti Sports Complex in Pune, India on Sunday night.
After a 1-all standoff in regulation plus two 15-minute extra periods, the plucky Filipina booters emerged triumphant over the Taiwanese after a gripping duel on penalties to seal a historic spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in January 2023.
Shining on the defensive and offensive ends, Fil-Am goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel stood out with two dramatic saves in the penalty shootout while scoring a marker when it mattered most to lead the Pinay footballers to a semis showdown on Thursday against South Korea.
Their feat was the country’s biggest achievement on the global soccer stage, surpassing the sixth-place finish of the Nationals who saw action in the 2018 edition in Amman, Jordan, with room to accomplish so much more.
The South Koreans also pulled off a huge upset, banking on Ji So-Yun’s goal in the 87th minute to stun the heavily favored Australian Matildas 1-0 and sustain their hopes of a second Asian Women’s Cup trophy.
Completing the semifinal cast are defending champion Japan, which swamped Thailand 7-0, and China, which subdued Vietnam 7-1. They will also meet on Thursday, with the winner advancing to the championship on Sunday at the DY Patil Stadium in Pune.
“The sacrifices of our players truly paid off. They missed celebrating Christmas and New Year just so they could train hard (in the US) for the Women’s Asian Cup. This is something we wouldn’t have dreamed of before,” said ecstatic Philippine Football Federation President Mariano Araneta Jr. yesterday.
He also singled out national team manager Jeff Cheng for virtually bankrolling the training stint of the national team as far back as August “plus, of course, the support of the Philippine Sports Commission and the MVP Sports Foundation.”
“To set out on a goal which is to qualify for the World Cup and actually achieve it is fantastic. I can’t describe the words to describe it. Congratulations to our players, coaches and staff for responding positively to this challenge,” Cheng said.
“Our players showed great courage and great character in going up against highly-seeded teams such as Thailand and Chinese-Taipei. They made history! I am immensely proud of our team and I’m sure Filipino sports fans as well. See you all in the World Cup in 2023!” he added.
Araneta also noted that Australian coach Alan Stajcic, who used to handle the Matildas in the last two Women’s Asian Cups, stood as the architect of the Nationals’ success while seeing his compatriots get booted out of the continental soccer showcase.
“It’s an unbelievable achievement by the group, and a moment of history for the country, you won’t be able to take that away from the group,” Stacjic said after the epic win. “For now, every young kid back home in the Philippines can be inspired to get back to the World Cup themselves.
“The group is really proud of each other, but they’re even more proud to inspire the next generation.”
“It’s really surreal,” said McDaniel, who was named Player of the Match, of her pivotal role in the victory. “It’s make or break right now. You need to show up for the team.”
Before McDaniel’s heroics, striker Quinley Quezada had pushed the Filipinas ahead with a 48th minute marker during a goalmouth scramble after the two sides ended the first 45 minutes in a scoreless stalemate.
The Taiwanese equalized with a left-footed volley from 25 yards from defender Zhou Li-Ping that hit the left top of the net and out of McDaniel’s reach.
Chinese-Taipei took a 3-2 lead in the shootout as Ting-Chi, Wang Hsiang-Huei and Chen Ying-hi converted their penalty kicks while Sarah Castaneda and skipper Tahnai Aniss hit the back of the net. Teammates Jessica Miclat and Halli Long, however, muffed theirs.
With the win within their grasp, the Taiwanese struck out thrice, while McDaniel coolly converted her own to extend the nerve-wracking shootout to sudden death.
Striker Sarina Bolden finally sealed the deal for the upstart Pinays, volleying the ball to the top left of the net and the team into the semis before joining her teammates in jubilation for the well-earned triumph.
