Asian Games 2022: Filipinas assert mastery of HK for historic Asiad win

The Philippine women's national football team (PWNFT) continued its dominance of Hong Kong via a 3-1 victory for a 1-0 win-loss record in Group E of the 19th Asian Games at the Wenzhou Sports Centre Stadium on Friday, September 22.

Hong Kong fell to the Filipinas for the third straight time, as the Southeast Asian side also captured the country's first-ever win in their maiden Asiad.

Before their third encounter, the Philippines dismantled the East Asians, 4-0, in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Olympic Qualifying Tournament first round last April this year. In 2021, the Filipinos beat the same team to reach the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup, 2-1, and the rest is history as they qualified for their first FIFA Women's World Cup.

Coming off a historic World Cup campaign and the departure of head coach Alen Stajcic, the Filipinas gifted their new mentor Mark Torcaso his first three points in a major international football competition.

Sarina Bolden, who struck the game-winner for the Philippines over New Zealand, converted her penalty kick to give the nationals a one-nil lead in the eighth minute after defender Chung Pui-ki's handball in the dangerous area.

Hong Kong, 77th globally, knotted the score at one-all in the 39th minute behind a long strike by midfielder Wai Ki Cheung, which left the 44th-ranked Filipinas stunned while their tactician Ricardo Rambo delighted.

In the second half, Torcaso's eleven fought for the tiebreaker, but the Rambo-mentored wards proved to be a tough nut to crack defensively.

However, better late than never, as the Filipinas came to life in the dying minutes.

With poise and composure, the Philippines found the breakthrough they needed, thanks to a Quinley Quezada goal, her 23rd for the senior national team, in the 90th.

Perth Glory-commit Quezada, who tied Bolden for the most goals for the Philippines, took advantage of the confusion inside the box to break the deadlock.

Katrina Guillou made her goal count for the match-sealing point two minutes later into injury time.

Guillou received a great pass from Meryll Serrano and dribbled past her defender and Hong Kong's goalkeeper before slotting the ball to the goalpost.

PWNFT withdrew from the 1990 edition in Beijing, China and had to wait 33 years to compete in the continental tilt.

Given the chance, they etched another historic feat to start their campaign.

The Philippines will take on South Korea, world number 20, on Monday, September 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the same venue.

Both sides faced each other in the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup semifinals, with the Taegeuk Ladies triumphing over the Malditas, former PWNFT's moniker, 2-0.