PH settles for draw vs Myanmar in ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship

The Philippine women’s national futsal team settled for a draw against the visiting Myanmar, 2-2, in its debut in the inaugural ASEAN Women’s Futsal Championship on Saturday night at the Philsports Arena in Pasig. 

The national team led the Myanmar side at the half with an early goal from Isabella Bandoja at the eighth-minute mark of the game.

Even with lesser possessions and shots on target, the Filipina booters held off the 37th-ranked Myanmar the rest of the first half, before it sneaked its way back into the game with an equalizer from Lwin Lwin Thet early in the second half. 

Finally finding their groove, the Burmese shrugged off the home crowd energy as Yoon Mie Mie Lwin was awarded a spot kick after Catherine Graversen was called for a handball. 

Yoon then converted the free kick off a rebound from Filipina keeper Mykaella Abeto’s initial save to briefly hold a 2-1 lead at the 32nd minute. 

However, the home bets responded not even a minute later as Graversen made and delivered a cross to Agot Danton, who buried the goal past Myanmar's Chaw Sandi Aung to level the match at 2-2. 

Despite Myanmar’s continued onslaught in the next possessions that followed, the Philippines held on to the draw. 

Both squads earned a point each for the draw, while world No. 6 Thailand rose atop the early standings with three points following its victory over Indonesia in the early game. 

The Philippines and Thailand will face each other on Sunday at 7 p.m. at the same venue after Myanmar and Vietnam lock horns in the earlier play. 

The competition will run until next week for the battle for third and championship match, with the top four teams vying for a place in the podium.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News