Philippines kicks off Asian Cup bid with win vs. Saudi Arabia

The Philippine women’s football national team opened its campaign in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers, blanking Saudi Arabia with a 3-0 score on Sunday, June 29, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The Filipinas quickly took control of the match with midfielder Jaclyn Sawicki scoring the opening goal in the 16th minute after Meryll Serrano found her inside the box. 

Serrano remained relentless throughout the match, breaking through Saudi Arabia’s tight defense to double the lead in the 55th minute.

Filipino-American rising star Alexa Pino then put the game beyond doubt, slotting in a goal in the 81st minute to secure a dominant win for the Philippines in their tournament opener.

The victory places the Filipinas at the top of Group G with three points.

Up next, the Filipinas will take on host Cambodia on Wednesday, July 2, before wrapping up the group stage against Hong Kong on Saturday, July 5.

With only the top team from each group advancing, every match counts as the Philippines pushes for a coveted spot in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, set to take place in Australia next year.