Filipinas beat Hong Kong, breathe life into Asian Games campaign

September 18 ------ THE Filipinas put themselves in a good position to secure a quarterfinal berth at the 20th Asian Games after their 2-0 win over Hong Kong at the Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium.

Skye Leach (12th) and Mallie Ramirez (63rd) scored in the Filipinas' first win and the full three points in Group G, which tied them at four points with leader China but in second place due to an inferior goal difference (+2 to China's +4). The top two teams in each of the three groups and the two best third-placers move to the quarterfinals.

The Philippines will face China on Monday at the conclusion of the group stage. Uzbekistan takes on Hong Kong in the other Group G match. Uzbekistan salvaged a 1-1 draw with China on Thursday after a similar scoreline against the Philippines to place third in the group with two points.

Leach drove the ball into the goal from inside the box to get the Philippines ahead early. Ramirez’s strike came off a cross by substitute Megan Murray. The best chance of Hong Kong to score came in the 28th minute when Hong Kiu Anke Leung’s shot hit the post. Other than that, the Filipinas were never seriously threatened with Filipinas goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel recording a clean sheet.

Source: spin.ph