'MALDITAS' PHILIPPINE WOMEN'S FOOTBALL TEAM BLASTS IRAN 6-0
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 22 May 2013
The Philippine women?s football team ?Malditas? made a blistering start to their 2014 Asian Football Confederation Women?s Asian Cup qualifying campaign with three goals in the first four minutes of their Group B opener before easing to a 6-0 win over a hapless Iran squad at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh and will next face powerhouse Thailand which is ranked No.29, today.
The Thais lead the standings in the group after routing hosts Bangladesh 9-0 after leading 4-0 at halftime.
An AFC report said ?The Philippines which is ranked No. 83 came flying out of the blocks and took the lead inside the first 60 seconds through defender Heather Cooke before further goals from Megan Jurado (3rd) and Jesse Anne Shugg (4th) had the South East Asians in complete control of the qualifying curtain raiser.?
Shaken by the early onslaught from the Malditas, the Iranians who are ranked some 31 places higher at No. 52 tightened up on defense and were able to stem the scoring binge but an own goal in the 34th minute by defender Sarshin Kamangar added to the Filipinas cushion before midfielder Joana Houplin scored the fifth goal four minutes from halftime.
Two minutes into second half stoppage time Shugg scored her second goal of the match for a final 6-0 count that left the Iranian team to ponder the cracking start by the Philippines in the first four minutes of the contest.
Thailand took the top spot in the group on goal difference over the Philippines after blasting host nation Bangladesh 9-0 on Tuesday.
An AFC report on the match said midfielder Rattikan Thongsombut broke the deadlock after 16 minutes before skipper Naphat Seesraum doubled Thailand?s advantage just two minutes later.
Nisa Romyen netted the first of her four goals in the 29th minute and added her second on the stroke of half-time to give the 1983 AFC Women?s Asian Cup champions a comfortable 4-0 cushion going into the interval.
Thailand?s fifth came in the 52nd minute courtesy of an own goal from Bangladesh defender Trishna Chakma and in the 64th minute Sunisa Srangthaisong struck number six as Piyakul Kawnamkang?s side matched the winning score the Philippines achieved against Iran in the opening Group B fixture at the same venue. But with 11 minutes remaining substitute Anongnat Boontan scored the goal that saw them pass the tally set by their ASEAN rivals before Nisa put the seal on a superb individual display by completing the hat-trick in the 87th minute and then netting her fourth and Thailand?s ninth three minutes into second-half stoppage time.
(Joana Houplin pictured challenging Hajar Shahmoradi)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SUNDAY: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev Undisputed Super Bantamweight Showdown to Stream Exclusively on Top Rank’s Facebook Channel in the U.S. & UK
Fri, 12 Sep 2025National Shelter Month Run on October 25 in DGT
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: Betting Odds Reveal a Battle of Money vs. Public Opinion
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 12 Sep 2025BELFAST PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING LEWIS CROCKER AND PADDY DONOVAN SAID AHEAD OF HISTORIC WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN
Fri, 12 Sep 2025GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA TO DEFEND UNDISPUTED CROWN AGAINST HIGHLY RANKED NEW FOE ALEXAS “IRON LADY” KUBICKI
Fri, 12 Sep 2025Chino Sy Tancontian is Sports Hero of the Year 2025
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Sep 2025Two (or Three) Lefts Make a Right: Francisco Guilledo to Luisito Espinosa
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 11 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez Advances to 2025 World Boxing Championships Semifinals
Thu, 11 Sep 2025UNIFIED WORLD CHAMPION OSCAR COLLAZO HOSTS MEDIA WORKOUT
Thu, 11 Sep 2025Jerwin Ancajas Set for IBF Mandatory Eliminator Against Former World Champ Ryosuke Nishida; Winner Fights Naoya Inoue
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 11 Sep 2025“Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
Thu, 11 Sep 2025Local Favorite Bryce Mills Tops First Boxing Card At del Lago Resort & Casino
Thu, 11 Sep 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: It´s Fightweek Fight: Canelo vs. Crawford
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Casimero comeback next month in Kyrgyzstan?
By Nick Giongco, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Team USA Concludes Day Six of 2025 World Boxing Championships
Wed, 10 Sep 2025