Filipinas U17 top Group A, qualify for AFC Asian Cup – BusinessWorld Online
THE PHILIPPINES clinched its spot in next year’s AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup in grand fashion, shutting out all three opponents to rule Group A of the Qualifiers in Dushanbe.
After a smashing 5-0 whitewash of Syria and a 2-0 blanking of host Tajikistan, the Young Filipinas continued their charge and roared past final opponent Malaysia, 4-0.
Luna Rivera (sixth minute), Chiara Mizzo (23rd), Aiselyn Sia (59th) gave the Philippines a 3-nil edge before Louraine Evangelista forced Nur Dania to an own goal 10 minutes later to seal the romp.
It was a perfect campaign for the Young Filipinas, who chalked up the maximum nine points, scoring 11 goals and conceding none, to beat the Malaysians (six points on two wins and one loss) for No. 1 and the lone ticket to the U17 WAC in Suzhou, China that’s at stake in the Tajikistan side of the qualifiers.
This will be the second Asian appearance for the Filipinas U17, who joined the hosts, defending champion North Korea, 2024 runnerup Japan, 2024 third placer South Korea, and fellow group winners Lebanon, Myanmar, Vietnam, Australia, Thailand, India and Chinese-Taipei in the 2026 staging. — Olmin Leyba