Attacking midfielder Tahnai Annis gave the Philippine national women’s football team a glimmer of hope in the Olympic dreams on Wednesday in the second round of the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament at HBF Park in Perth, Australia.
Annis scored in the 19th minute, with her lone goal sending the Filipinas to a 1-0 triumph over Iran in Group A, for their second win in three games
But the Philippines’ chances to reach the 2024 Paris Olympics soon faded after Uzbekistan posted a 3-0 victory over India in their Group C in Tashkent later in the evening.
Uzbekistan ended up with a better quotient from among the runners-up of Groups A, B, and C, and joined host Australia, and North Korea in the third round.
The hopes of other contenders, South Korea and Vietnam also ended after the Sokors took a 1-all draw with China in Group B, and Vietnam fell to a 0-2 loss to Japan in Group C.
“It was an extremely hard game, to get behind and score. In the end, we did enough to get the result,” said Filipinas coach Mark Torcaso.
The 63rd-ranked Iranians were tight on defense after Annis scored, and kept the Filipinas from scoring more goals and gaining more opportunities to stay qualified through the better quotient system.
The 44th-ranked Filipinas tried during the added time, with Quinley Quezada and Sarina Bolden missing their marks.
With their second win, the Philippines finished at no. 2 in the second round in Group A behind Australia.