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| The Filipinas celebrate the lone goal of Chandler McDaniel in the 81st minute that led them to a historic win against Thailand. AFC |
By Gil Moriones
MANILA--Chandler McDaniel scored the goal that put the Philippine women's football team ahead of Thailand for the first time ever as they began their stint in the AFC Women's Asian Cup at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai, India on Friday night.
McDaniel eventually won it for her team with an 81st-minute goal from the right elbow that Waraporn Boonsing failed to clear properly as the ball rolled into her goalmouth.
Before her goal, McDaniel already put her presence in the field as she attempted to draw first blood as soon as the first half but was luckily deflected by the Thai defender and eventually caught by Boonsing,
Thereafter, the Milwaukee Panthers Forward got the urge as she received the ball from Ryley Bugay.
With three blue shirts trying to stop her to progress inside, McDaniel suddenly kicked the football from outside the box to launch her goal attempt.
Boonsing initially caught the ball, but it slipped off her hands and went inside the goal line, eventually signifying the historic win for the Philippines.
The Filipinas struggled to clinch a win against the 2019 SEA Games Women's Football runners-up in their 12 previous meetings until the squad coached by Australian Alen Stajcic pulled off some sort of a "Miracle in Mumbai".
The Filipinas' aggressiveness was manifested early in the first half as debutant Katrina Guillou attempted to open the floodgate for the white shirts as the beneficiary from the dime of McDaniel, but her goal was nullified after the assistant referee called offside.
The Pitea IF Defender continued to bang the Thai defensive doors after she tried to score from outside the box came from the long ball but went to hit the crossbar.
In the second half, the 2019 Women's World Cup contender tried to change their course of football under the mentorship of Japanese Miyo Okamoto in asserting their might but the Filipinas' defense prevailed and threw some critical goal attempts including the long-range effort of Quinley Quezada that easily handled by Boonsing.
The Philippines claimed the full three points to join Australia on top of Group B, but the latter currently owns the tiebreaker on goal difference after tarnishing Indonesia with a convincing 18-0 win.
Both teams will battle each other for Group B leadership on Monday.
Follow him on Twitter: @gilpuyatstation
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