Pinay, Thai booters meet anew

MANILA, Philippines —The Philippines will get a chance to quickly get back at Southeast Asian Games conqueror Thailand after they were bracketed in the same group for the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Championship during yesterday’s draw.

The Filipinas, who were denied of a spot in the SEAG gold medal match with a 3-0 semifinal loss to the Thais last week, got the Hanoi Games silver-winning Thailand as groupmates in Group A along with Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.

The Alen Stajcic-coached Pinay booters had previously been grouped with Thailand, Indonesia and the Matildas, in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in India last January. The Filipinas beat Thailand (1-0) and Indonesia (6-0) but yielded a 4-0 setback that time to Australia, which is expected to send its youth team to the Asean tilt set in July at the Biñan Stadium in Laguna and Imus Grandstand in Cavite.

Defending champion and reigning SEA Games holder Vietnam leads Group B with Myanmar, Timor Leste, Cambodia and Laos providing a challenge.

The Filipinas are looking to continue the charge from their historic qualification to the FIFA Women’s World Cup via a semifinal finish in the WAC and a bronze medal in the recent Vietnam SEAG with a 2-1 steal over Myanmar.