PH forges draw after late Connolly strike
The Philippines snatched a 3-3 draw against group host Uzbekistan on Monday on Judy Connolly’s late equalizer for another impressive result in the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers.
Connolly immediately canceled out Lyudmila Karachik’s go-ahead score with a minute remaining that allowed the Philippine side to share a point with the Uzbeks at Tashkent’s Yunusobod Sport Complex.
Coach Rafa Merino’s squad actually led twice behind Bella Flanigan and Katrina Guillou, who have accounted for the bulk of the Philippines’ goals after two matchdays resulting in four points.
Though equal on points with Uzbekistan, the Philippines holds second spot in the group on goal difference, raising the possibility of meeting the high expectations of securing qualification to the Asian Cup this May in China, which was set by Philippine Football Federation president John Gutierrez.
Key saves
Australia leads the group with six points after a 5-0 rout of Kuwait in Monday’s other game.
The Philippines takes on fourth-running Turkmenistan on Wednesday, needing another win to boost its Asian Cup bid.
The top two teams and possibly the third placer in the group will advance to the continental tournament, which the Philippines will need as part of its buildup for the Fifa Women’s Futsal World Cup later this year.
Flanigan put the Philippines in front just four minutes into the match before Uzbekistan, ranked 18th in the world, tied it up on Nilufar Kudratova’s goal.
Guillou produced her third goal of the qualifier, with less than six minutes to go in the first half for a 2-1 lead that the Philippines sustained until halftime. But Karachik put the match back on level terms with her first goal early in the second half.
Philippine goalkeeper Samantha Hughes, one of the few holdovers from the AFF Women’s Futsal Championship side of former coach Vic Hermans and then-team manager Danny Moran, made key saves that helped seal the draw.
