MANILA — The Philippines kicked off their AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over Kuwait in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on Saturday 11 Jan 2025).
The win provided a strong start despite controversy surrounding the team’s buildup.
Katrina Guillou led the charge with two goals, showcasing her indoor futsal skills.
The Filipinas were also bolstered by contributions from Bella Flanigan and Dionesa Tolentin, securing the three points at the Yunusobod Sport Complex.
This win marked the debut of new head coach Rafa Merino, who replaced Vic Hermans amid a contentious coaching change that followed criticism from former team manager Danny Moran.
The convincing performance helped the team shake off any pressure from internal issues and expectations set by Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president John Gutierrez, who is aiming for the Philippines to top Group C.
The Filipinas now face another challenge on Monday (13 Jan 2025) against host Uzbekistan, who had the day off.
In other group action, Australia defeated Turkmenistan 6-1. The top two teams, and possibly the third-place finisher, will advance to the Asian Cup in May in China.
Guillou, who has 13 international goals for the Philippines, opened the scoring just two minutes into the match, capitalizing on a rebound off a blocked shot from Sara Castañeda.
Flanigan doubled the lead in the second half, finishing a lob after her initial attempt was saved.
Tolentin extended the advantage with a long-range strike, and despite a late goal from Kuwait’s Shrouq Mohammad, Guillou completed her brace near the end to seal the victory. (Sourced online)
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