Shocker in Hanoi young Filipinas gain milestone passage to Asian Cup

MANILA, Philippines — It’s the turn of the Filipinas’ under-17 team to shine as it punched a historic ticket to the 2024 AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup.

And the young Filipinas, taking the cue from their FIFA World Cup history-making senior counterparts, did it in spectacular fashion, nipping host Vietnam, 1-0, in Sunday night’s make-or-break Qualifiers matchup at the National Youth Football Training Center in Hanoi.

Isabella Preston delivered a stunning free kick at the 56th minute to power the Philippine U17s to the massive victory that sealed their milestone debut in the ultimate battle for the Continental crown and sustained the momentum started by the Filipinas.

The Pinay teens finished runner-up in Group B with six points on two wins and a loss and joined unbeaten group winner Australia and Group A Top 2 Korea and Thailand in the march to the main draw in April.

The four qualifiers will face off with titlist Japan, North Korea and China – the top 3 teams in the 2019 AFC U16 Women’s Championship – as well as host Indonesia in the grand finale.

“I knew that I can score from a long range and I trusted myself to do it, and when it went in I was in complete awe,” said Preston, who placed a thunderous free kick towards the top left corner beyond the reach of Vietnam keeper Le Thi Thu to give the visitors the upper hand.

“It was an amazing effort from the girls and we made history and we’re going to the Asian Cup.”