Filipinas face Iran XI in key tiff

MANILA, Philippines — The Filipinas vowed to pick themselves up from a deflating 0-8 loss to powerhouse Australia Sunday and fight more furiously hereon to save their sagging Paris 2024 dreams.

The resilient Filipinas seek a quick bounceback victory today against Iran to keep themselves alive in the race for a ticket to the third round of the AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

“Tough loss. But the hungry futboleras will come back in Game 3,” a defiant co-skipper Hali Long said as the second-running Philippines transitions to the all-important Group A wind-up against the No. 3 Iranians at 3:50 p.m. at the Perth Rectangular Stadium in Australia.

With the Matildas (six points and +10 goal difference) expected to beat Chinese Taipei (one point), top the group and qualify outright to the next round along with the winners of Groups B and C, the Pinay booters can now only aspire for the lone berth reserved for the “best runner-up” in Round 2.

No thanks to the eight-goal defeat, the Pinay booters sat at third among the second-ranked teams with three points on 1-0-1 win-draw-loss card and -5 goal difference. Group B’s North Korea (four points on one win and one draw) held the driver’s seat followed by Group C’s Vietnam (three points on 1-0-1 and +1 GD).