Filipinas suffer first Asiad defeat VS South Korea

South Korea dealt the Philippines its first-ever defeat in the women's football tournament in the 19th Asian Games and Asiad history, 5-1, at the Wenzhou Sports Centre on Monday, September 25.

The Philippine women's football team, popularly known as "Filipinas", found no answer to the aggressive Korean side led by Son Hwa-yeon's hat-trick.

Chun Ga-ram and Ji So-yun added a goal each for the Taegeuk Ladies, who improved to a 2-0-0 win-draw-loss record to stay atop Group E. They blanked Myanmar in their opening fixture, 3-0.

Meanwhile, the Filipinas fell to one win and one loss mark. Coming off a 3-1 victory against Hong Kong, the nationals couldn't sustain momentum.

Sarina Bolden gave the Philippines an early 1-0 lead in the eighth minute. That was Bolden's 24th goal for the senior national team.

Four minutes later, Chun leveled the score for South Korea before Son tallied the first of her three goals in the 44th minute to fire them ahead, 2-1.

Nothing changed in the second half as the Koreans continued to put pressure on the Filipinas and dominate ball possession, which they converted into goals.

Chun got fouled inside the box by defender Eva Madarang, and Ji sank her penalty kick in the 52nd against Filipinas goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel.
Korea's press allowed Son to complete her three-goal night in the 56th and 70th.

The defeat pushed the Filipinas back against the wall as they must defeat Southeast Asian rival Myanmar in their last group assignment on Thursday, September 28, to reach the next round.

This, as the Group E runner-up can still advance to the succeeding stage if they are one of the three best second-placed nations after the group phase.

South Korea, the projected Group E winner, takes on Hong Kong on the same day as the Filipinas and Burmese tussle on the pitch.