Filipinas move to AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup next phase

The Philippines downed Lebanon, 2-0, and advanced to the second round of the 2024 AFC Under 17 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers at GFA National Training Center in Guam on Wednesday night, April 26.

The Filipinas topped Group G with two wins in as many games while Lebanon was eliminated from contention after losing this crucial match.

Isabella Alamo delivered the breakthrough goal in the 69th minute before Nina Mathelus sealed the victory 20 minutes later.

Coming to this fixture, the Filipina booters can't even afford to draw as Lebanon had a better goal difference, with the latter beating Guam, 5-2, and the former by a 3-1 scoreline only.

With urgency needed, they responded from the get-go.

Alen Stajcic's side came with tremendous energy in the first half, pressing the Lebanese side continuously and creating multiple scoring chances while being careful defensively.

However, they failed to convert those opportunities for the opening 45 minutes to end at nil-nil.

In the second half, the same aggression was seen from the Southeast Asian squad, and their effort finally paid off in the 69th with Alamo's opening goal.

Looking for the assurance goal, the Philippines continued to press and attack aggressively, leaving Lebanon no chance to rest.

The West Asians tried to counter but the defense held on, setting the stage for the exclamation goal struck by Mathelus from the spot late in the second half.

Mathelus finished the opening round of the qualifiers with four goals, three of those against Guam in a hat-trick performance, to become the country's top scorer.

In the second round, the Philippines and seven other group winners will be divided into two brackets of four nations.

The group winner and runner-up in each bracket will join host Indonesia, defending champion Japan, North Korea, and China in the main tournament on April 7 – 20, 2024.

Podium finishers will represent Asia in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.