Stajcic: It’s time for shot at gold

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines seeks to end its string of semifinal heartaches as it presses its bid to get in play for the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Women’s Championship gold medal on home ground.

But standing in the way of the Group A runner-up Filipinas and their coveted finals stint is Group B winner Vietnam, the reigning AFF and Southeast Asian Games queens no less.

The Vietnamese were actually responsible for stalling the Pinay booters’ advance in two previous Final Four duels in 2019, scoring a 2-1 win in the AFF meet in Thailand and a 2-0 shutout in the SEAG in Biñan.

At 8 tonight, preferably with a large group of cheering home supporters at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, the FIFA Women’s World Cup-qualified Filipinas look to change this.

Coach Alen Stajcic himself is raring to steer the home side into the finals after falling short in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup semis against Korea last January, 2-0, and in the SEAG Last-4 versus Thailand last May, 3-0.

“We had a couple of semifinals already this year so we’ve had good experience. Now it’s time to win one,” said Stajcic.