RP footbelles trip Malaysians

KUALA LUMPUR – The Philippine women’s football team dumped Malaysia, 4-0, Friday in the opener of the "Quadrangular" tournament at the National Sports Council in Kuala Lumpur.

The RP belles got their goals in the 13th minute courtesy of Scarlet Bautista from a Marielle Benitez corner, and Rhea Penales who struck twice, first on a header from a long ball in the 24th and then added another to her tally in the 80th. The other goal was by Andrea Yang in the 70th.

It was a great result for RP head coach Marlon Maro’s girls in preparation for the Vietnam SEA Games next month. In the only other contest of the evening, Thailand thrashed Indonesia, 6-0.

The RP team next takes on Thailand, a squad that they lost to, 0-2, in a friendly early this year. A victory against the Thais will give the Filipina booters a good chance of lifting the top trophy.