Filipinas advance to the quarterfinals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup

WITH a helping hand from Japan, the Filipinas advanced to the quarterfinals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup (WAC) in Australia and stayed in the chase for tickets to next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC).

But it’s the Japanese, themselves, standing in the way of the Pinay booters’ bid to move forward to the semifinals and consequently book a direct entry to the global showpiece set in Brazil.

The troops of coach Mark Torcaso battle the Nadeshiko Japan on Sunday in Sydney.

If successful in bringing down the two-time WAC champs, the Filipinas will accomplish their mission of going to a second straight WWC.

If not, there’s still another way in — via the play-in matches for the losing quarterfinalists where two seats to the worlds are up for grabs.

But even if unsuccessful in the two pathways, the door remains open as the two play-in losers proceed to the inter-confederation playoffs that determines the final three teams to qualify.

Making the KO stage of the WAC likewise kept the Filipinas’ Olympic hopes alive as it earned them a spot in the Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The reigning Southeast Asian Games champion’s place in the WAC quarterfinals was confirmed on Tuesday night when Nadeshiko Japan routed Vietnam in the final game of group play, 4-0.

This result benefitted Group A No. 3 Philippines in the three-way dispute for the quarterfinal seats allotted to the two best third placers, lifting side to the “Magic 2” after a tiebreak alongside Group B third-placer Uzbekistan with identical three points on one win and two losses and goal difference (GD) of -2.

Vietnam also finished with three points in placing third in Group C but got the boot with its inferior -4 GD, undone by the four-goal loss to Japan. — Olmin Leyba