Filipinas kick off drive with huge win

MANILA, Philippines — FIFA Women’s World Cup-bound Philippines flexed its muscles against Cambodia, 5-0, to get its 31st Southeast Asian Games bid off to a fiery start last night at the Cam Pha Stadium in Vietnam.

Playing their first tournament since qualifying for the world meet, the Filipinas took care of business against the unheralded Cambodians and put the game beyond reach with a four-goal spree in the second half.

Isabella Flanigan pounced on the Cambodians’ failure to clear to break the ice in the 27th minute.

After restart, Sarina Bolden (64’) Eva Madarang (68’), Quinley Quezada (75’) and Anicka Castaneda (80’) took turns punching through Cambodia’s defense to ensure the Filipinas of maximum points in Group A.

With this, the Alen Stajcic-coached Pinay booters put themselves in prime position to finish in the Top 2 of three-team bracket and advance to the semifinals.

The roaring shutout also gave the Filipinas a major confidence and momentum boost ahead of their livewire showdown against host and defending champion Vietnam tomorrow.

The Under-23 Azkals, meanwhile, bolstered their drive with a massive nil-nil draw with defending champion Vietnam last Sunday.

The huge result, which followed the 4-0 thrashing of Timor Leste on opening night, pushed the U23 Azkals to the top of Group A with their 1-1-0 win[1]draw-loss card, ahead of the fellow four-pointer Vietnamese on goal difference, +4 versus +3.

“Our objective is to enter the semifinals so this draw is a big thing for us,” said coach Norman Fegidero.