Philippines scores 3-3 draw vs. home team Uzbekistan in AFC Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers

The Philippine women's football team salvaged a draw in an intense battle against home team Uzbekistan, 3-3, in the 2025 AFC Women's Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers on Monday at the Yunusobod Sports Complex in Tashkent.

The Philippines, who were coming off a 4-1 thrashing of Kuwait last Saturday, now hold a 1-1-0 win-draw-loss card in Group C while the hosts opened their campaign with a 0-1-0 slate.

The visiting Filipinas needed just four minutes to draw first blood as Isabella Flanigan cleaned up a denied attack on her teammate Katrina Guillou at the 16:08 mark of the first half, but Uzbekistan was able to tie things up at the 12:53 mark.

Flanigan and Guillou then made a connection with the former issuing the cross and the latter converting the goal for a 2-1 lead at the halftime before Uzbekistan once again knotted the score after a conversion early in the second half.

Tied at 2-2, Alisha Del Campo almost had it near the post but the opposing goalkeeper caught the leather. Uzbekistan then had its chance to get the lead when they got an open look right in the middle at the 3:45 mark, but Filipinas' goalkeeper Samantha Hughes' relentless defense was on full display to deny it as well.

Uzbekistan got a huge momentum when veteran Lyudmila Karachik escaped three defenders to give the host country a 3-2 cushion with just over two minutes left in the game.

But the Filipinas were quick to retaliate with Judy Connolly using her left foot to fool the defense of Uzbekistan and force a 3-3 stalemate. Uzbekistan tried to make a desperate attempt in the last three seconds, but Karachik's kick was way off as the two teams settled for a draw.

The Filipinas will be back in action on Wednesday against Turkmenistan, which absorbed a tough 6-1 blowout loss to Australia last Saturday.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News